Spices

A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance primarily used for flavouring, colouring or preserving food.^{[citation needed]}

Sometimes a spice is used to hide other flavours.^[1]

Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are parts of leafy green plants also used for flavouring or as garnish.

Many spices have antimicrobial properties. This may explain why spices are more commonly used in warmer climates, which have 

more infectious disease, and why use of spices is especially prominent in meat, which is particularly susceptible to spoiling.^[2]

A spice may have an extra use, usually medicinal, religious ritual, cosmetics or perfume production, or as a vegetable. For example, turmeric roots are consumed as a vegetable and garlic as an antibiotic.