canid
04-18-2010, 01:50 AM
so many of us have noticed that when aromatic herbs and spices are stored, the volatile compounds get into the air, and will be absorbed by other materials [such as other spices].
this results in a mingling of spices that i usually find pleasant, as though the spices improve and enrich one another. lately however i have noticed one particular overpowering feature: fresh cumin is strong. in fact, having a bag of cumin stored in the same container of my nutmeg has essentially turned my nutmeg into cumin. i can't use it for desert dishes anymore. this is fine because i use the nutmeg and cinnamon in a lot of savoy dishes, but next time, i keep them in glass jars.
this results in a mingling of spices that i usually find pleasant, as though the spices improve and enrich one another. lately however i have noticed one particular overpowering feature: fresh cumin is strong. in fact, having a bag of cumin stored in the same container of my nutmeg has essentially turned my nutmeg into cumin. i can't use it for desert dishes anymore. this is fine because i use the nutmeg and cinnamon in a lot of savoy dishes, but next time, i keep them in glass jars.