The Herb and Spice Companion

by Marcus A. Webb, Richard Craze

This book guides the reader through all aspects of herbs, including their history; how to grow, harvest, and dry them; and their preparation for medicinal use. This volume also contains an extensive directory of more than 50 spices. Each entry gives the essential properties of the spice, as well as its medicinal and culinary uses where appropriate.

Genres: Cookbooks, Reference, Nonfiction, Cooking, Gardening, Food, Self Help

375 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, strange. I went hunting for this book in order to rate it, and was confused because Goodreads lists the author as Marcus A. Webb. My copy, however, lists Kathryn Hawkins as the author. Upon closer review, so does the pictured copy on Goodreads.

So, now that I think that I am talking about the correct book... This is a good book, a quick read and seems to have some decent (simple) recipes upon a quick glance (I have made none). It is excellent as an overview to the world's most commonly used spices. Those looking for in-depth exploration of the medicinal value of these spices will be disappointed. This book is great for someone who has a casual interest in spices and herbs and who wishes to gain a bit more knowledge. Someone who is familiar with Asian cuisines, in particular--or someone who takes on spice-growing as a hobby--well, they will be bored. Gardeners, forget it. BUT, if you want a general reference guide that is small in size and easy to keep on the shelf with your cookbooks--this is it!

[Eithne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty decent introduction to herbs and spices for those who are unfamiliar with their uses. The layout is simple and easy to use. The book starts with a small introduction of basic information, history, drying, and uses followed by individual descriptions. Each herd and spice features a photo, brief description, parts used, potential benefits and culinary uses. I'm no expert on the medicinal benefits of herbs/spices but I have grown them and used them for culinary purposes for years and think this a good book to start with. Truth be told there's not alot in here that isn't also in a whole lot of other herb books but I think the small size and simple straight forward presentation makes this a good choice for a casual beginner.

[Silas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this collection of two books. It contained some useful information, and led me to try some new uses of herbs in my cooking, which were quite enjoyable. One thing of note, though, the author does seem to have a high tolerance for spicy foods, so his recommendations of spices are a little off from mine, but still a very worthwhile read.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for herbs and spices. Not only does it give you a brief synopsis of the herb/spice, but where it is grown, medicinal and culinary uses, and other information. Also, this books contains several recipes for different ailments, from surface to internal. I have been using this book quite frequently ever since I bought it 6 months ago!

[Shandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My version is different from this one, but however, I still found it to be a good resource.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, easy to understand, great photos. Perfect if you're curious how herbs and spices can be used in cooking and holistic medicine.