Spice Chronicles | Mediterranean Spice Blog by Edi Gourmet

Chicken shawarma on warm pita with sumac-dusted red onion and a bowl of garlic sauce

What Is Shawarma Seasoning Made Of? Spice by Spice

Key Takeaways You’ve stood at the counter watching it happen. A tall cone of meat turning on a vertical spit, the edges crisping, a long knife shaving off ribbons that land straight in a warm pita. That smell is the seasoning. It’s also the hardest part to pin down at […]

The twelve whole spices in ras el hanout arranged around a bowl of the ground blend

What Does Ras el Hanout Taste Like? Warm, Sweet, Not Hot

Key Takeaways Most people open a pouch of ras el hanout braced for heat. The name sounds like a challenge, and “spice blend” on a label usually means chili somewhere. It never arrives. What you get instead is warmth, a low sweetness, and a floral note sitting on top that […]

Ground pumpkin pie spice in one dish beside whole and ground allspice berries in another, shown side by side.

Is Pumpkin Pie Spice The Same As Allspice? Not Quite

Key Takeaways Allspice has the worst name in the spice cupboard. It sounds like a shortcut — all the spices, in one container. It is not. Allspice is one dried berry from one tree, and the name is a description of what it tastes like, not what is in it. […]

A slice of pumpkin pie on a plate showing the smooth custard filling where spice flavour has nowhere to hide.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Substitute: What Works And What It Costs

Key Takeaways You can substitute pumpkin pie spice. Whether you should depends entirely on what is in the oven. Every swap costs something. Sometimes that cost is invisible — in a latte, nobody will ever know. Sometimes it is the dish. So here is what each option actually costs, and […]

Two bowls side by side, warm baharat seven spice and garlic-forward shawarma seasoning

Is 7 Spice the Same as Shawarma Seasoning?

Is 7 Spice the Same as Shawarma Seasoning? Last updated: October 1, 2026 Key Takeaways No. Seven spice and shawarma seasoning are related, but built for different jobs. Seven spice is the Middle Eastern name for baharat — a warm, all-purpose blend. The classic Lebanese version leads with cinnamon; Turkish and Gulf styles build it […]

Sweet paprika, cayenne, and Aleppo pepper flakes -- the best Aleppo substitute mix

Aleppo Pepper Substitute: What to Use When You’re Out

Key Takeaways You’re halfway through a recipe, the jar’s empty, and something needs that gentle fruity heat right now. The fastest fix is already in your cupboard: sweet paprika with a pinch of cayenne. Paprika comes from the same species as Aleppo, as Britannica’s entry on paprika notes, which is […]

Edi Gourmet Spice Turkish oregano leaves pouch on a kitchen table beside a bowl of the dried leaf

Is Dried Oregano the Same as Ground Oregano?

Two jars sit on the shelf, both labelled oregano. One is full of little green flakes — that’s dried oregano. The other is a fine grey-green powder — that’s ground oregano. The recipe didn’t say which one it meant. So you’re guessing whether they’re the same thing, whether you can […]

Dark Urfa pepper flakes on a stone surface with wooden spoon showing minimal seeds and oily texture

How Spicy Is Urfa Pepper? 🌶️ Heat Level, Scoville Range & the Slow Burn Explained

Urfa pepper won’t set your mouth on fire — it measures 7,000–10,000 Scoville Heat Units, with a slow-building warmth that’s nothing like sharp crushed red pepper flakes. Here’s how its heat compares to Aleppo, cayenne, and paprika, and why the slow burn makes it one of the most versatile chili flakes in the kitchen.

Side-by-side comparison of Urfa pepper, Aleppo pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes showing differences in color, texture, and seeds.

Urfa Pepper vs Aleppo Pepper: What’s the Real Difference?

Urfa pepper and Aleppo pepper may look similar, but their flavor, heat, and texture are distinctly different. Discover how smoky, dark Urfa compares to fruity, bright Aleppo—and when to use each in your cooking.

Urfa pepper used in a cozy home cooking setting

What Is Urfa Pepper? 🌶️

Urfa pepper is a smoky Turkish chili with deep, dark flakes and gentle heat. Learn what it tastes like, how to use it, and how it differs from Aleppo pepper.