Originally posted 2017-04-02 19:06:32.

If you happened to know the dear author of survivaljunk.com personally, you would know that I absolutely love to cook. I by no means would consider myself a chef,  but once I entered college and lived with a roommate that lived on nothing but peanut butter and easy-mac,  I learned very quickly to be able to whip up some tasty dishes.  And of course, a big part of making a meal tasty is adding spices to enhance the flavors of the food you eat.  Now, in a SHTF situation spices can take on a whole new level of importance.  So, let’s cover some shtf spices and why they are a good idea to have in your emergency preparedness gear.  (Some of the following items might be referred to as herbs, but I’ll just use the word spices for brevity)

What is a spice, exactly?  It’s a seed, fruit, root, bark or other plant that is primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food.  The history of spices is a fascinating one, with some archaeological evidence dating the spice trade back to 2000 BCE in East Asia.   Spices became so important that they were a major catalyst in the Age of Exploration, and even sparked wars over who was in control of the spice trade.  Why all the fuss over salt and pepper, you ask?  Spices were vitally important with their many antimicrobial properties, helping to keep meat from spoiling, and giving flavor to bland and repetitive staple foods.  For some more historical perspective, I highly recommend The Spice Trail documentaries produced by the BBC, which are available on YouTube.  There’s also plenty of books about spices if you’re interested in learning more about the history of spices and the trade.

 

My main picks for SHTF spices

In an SHTF spices will once again become worth their weight in gold – and I think it’s a great idea to have a little stockpile of various spices stashed away.  Spices can vary greatly in their quality and price, so research into what works for you is highly recommended.    I would keep a good stockpile of the following:

• salt
• black pepper
• basil
• dill weed
• Rosemary
• cayenne pepper
• cumin
• paprika
• cinnamon
• coriander
• nutmeg
• chili powder
• crushed red pepper
• fennel seed
• thyme
• turmeric
• oregano
• Italian seasoning

Let’s break some of these down:

Salt

Although salt isn’t technically a spice, it’s one of the most common additive to flavor foods in the world.  Salt is also extremely important in the human body, as it is required to send electrical signals through our nerves.  It’s also critical to the function of our muscles and digestive system.   In fact, the word salary derives from the Latin word Salarium (Roman soldiers were said to have been paid in salt) Salt is fairly cheap and easy to store, so there’s no reason to not have a good amount handy.

Black Pepper

Probably the most famous of spices, black pepper is commonly seen today in almost every kitchen, and at every table in a restaurant.   It’s the number one selling spice in America, and one of the most popular world wide.  Native to India, this spice has been used extensively in human cooking for over 4000 years.  It’s rich in vitamins A & C, and is also rich in manganese, vitamin K and copper.  A must have for anyone’s shtf spices rack!

Basil

Made from the leaves of many varieties of basil plants, this herb is a classic in Italian cooking and also has some great health benefits.  It can be used for stomach spasms, gas, colds, and many more natural health reasons.  Fresh basil is full of vitamin K, and serves as an anti inflammatory.  The best part?  Basil’s very easy to grow in a sunny windowsill – and you can easily grow enough to keep you supplied.

 

Dill Weed

Without this magical weed, we would never know the awesomeness that is a dill pickle!  World renowned for its use in pickling techniques, dill weed is a great spice that can give zest to meats and fish, and packs a nutritional punch.  It’s known to help with menstrual cramps, lowering cholesterol and has been cited as a natural remedy for depression.  Dill is also pretty easy to grow, and when it gets going it literally grows like a weed.  At one of my landscaping summer jobs during college, there were several monster dill weeds that I would have to trim every couple weeks.  They were prolific growers!

Rosemary

This fragrant Mediterranean herb is commonly used with roasts, stews and soups, and carries it’s own health benefits.  It’s been shown to improve mood & memory, as well as having some antibacterial potentials.  In a pinch, this and herbs like mint can be used to help freshen your breath when a traditional mouthwash or toothpaste is unavailable.  Plus, it tastes really good on chicken!

Cayenne Pepper

This Hot red little pepper has been used therapeutically all over the Americas and China.  Cayenne pepper’s bright red powder is chock full of detoxifying ability.  It can help with upset stomachs, colds, congestion & digestion.  It’s also capable of helping someone to produce more saliva, and has  been known to alleviate toothaches. This bright, hot spice gives a great kick to any foods it’s added to, and can turn bland rice into a spicy surprise.

Cumin

Commonly found in Indian food as well as the cuisines of some African & Asian cultures,  cumin has very powerful abilities to help with digestion and various skin disorders.  Cumin also has some anti fungal and antimicrobial abilities, and has been helpful for those who suffer from piles.    You can also utilize cumin to aid in relieving insect bites or stings.  A very important addition to your shtf spices.

Paprika

Did you know that paprika actually comes from bell peppers?  Similar to its cousin cayenne pepper, this colorful spice abounds in Hungarian cuisine.  Ranging from very sweet to somewhat spicy, this bright ground pepper gains its hues of oranges, reds and yellows from it’s high content of carotenoids, similar to carrots.  Full of various vitamins & capsaicin, Paprika is not to be forgotten for the emergency spice rack (or the deviled eggs.)

Cinnamon

A common festive spice that we Americans usually associate with Christmas or the local Cinnabon kiosk at the mall,   This inner tree bark is a celebrated addition to the shtf spices collection.   one of the most heavily traded spices in the ancient world.  It can be found in a variety of uses, from flavoring foods to spice candles to potpourri, you definitely don’t want to be lacking in cinnamon in a post shtf world.

There are more spices available than I want to cover in one article, but hopefully this gives you some ideas for some shtf spices and how they can enhance your food supplies, both in taste, nutrition, and medicinal value.  In a long scale emergency scenario, these spices will become extremely valuable both as items to barter, or just to give your food a bit of flavor.   Check out some of the shtf spices that are available on the internet, there’s plenty to choose from!

Cheers!