# What is the difference between herbs and spices?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-herbs-and-spices/561818>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 24, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-herbs-and-spices/561818 "2010-11-24T22:19:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-herbs-and-spices/561818/1 "2010-11-24T22:19:46Z")

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In cookbooks I sometimes see “herbs” and “spices” written of as if they were different things – and, not even as if “herb” were a subcategory of “spice” – and I’m not clear on the distinction. Doesn’t every spice in the rack (except for salt, if that counts) come from a plant?

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**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-herbs-and-spices/561818/2 "2010-11-24T22:25:46Z")

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Herbs are made from the plant’s leaves, spices are made from seeds or pods and similar parts.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 25, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-herbs-and-spices/561818/3 "2010-11-25T01:32:45Z")

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Spices can also be other parts such as bark (cinnamon), and who knows what roots and other underground parts (garlic, horseradish) are.