Essential Guide to Spices, Vegetables, Herbs, Seeds, and Fruits
Learn facts about spices, vegetables, herbs, plant seeds and fruits. Find information on their origins, uses in cooking, and practical tips for incorporating them into your meals.
✓ SPICES ✓ VEGETABlES ✓ SEEDS ✓ herbs
| Title | Image | Shelf Life (How Long They Last) | Information | Country / Continent | Uses | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-eyed Beans |  | 1 year (dried); 3-5 days (cooked, refrigerated) | Learn more | Africa | Moi Moi, Akara, Beans Cake, Multiple | Seeds |
| Yanghanyanghan or Prekese – Tetrapleura Tetraptera |  | Dried Prekese can last up to 12 months if kept dry. | Learn more | Nigeria, Ghana | Pepper Soups, Multiple | Seeds |
| Selim Peppers / Xylopia Ethiopica / Uda |  | Whole Selim: Up to 2 years (when stored properly) but it is best to use them within 6-12 months for the best taste. | Learn more | Nigeria, Ghana | Pepper Soups, Multiple | Seeds |
| Calabash Nutmeg – Ehuru (Igbo) |  | Whole Seeds: Up to 12 Months Ground Seeds: Best to use withing 6 months. | Learn more | Nigeria | Pepper Soups, Multiple | Seeds |
| Egusi |  | Whole Seeds: Up to 6 months (when stored properly); Ground Seeds: Use within 3 - 4 months. | Learn more | Nigeria | Egusi Soup, Multiple | Seeds |
| Pealed Black-eyed Beans |  | Refrigerator: Up to 3 days (when stored properly); Freezer: Up to 3 months (thaw in water before use). | Learn more | Africa | Moi Moi, Akara, Beans Cake, Multiple | Seeds |
| Curry Powder |  | Unopened Store-Bought Brands: Best to use within 1 year. Opened Store-Bought Brands: 6 months to 1 year (refer to packaging for details). | Learn more | India | Multiple | Spices |
| Ground Turmeric |  | Store-Bought Brands: 6-12 months (refer to packaging for details). | Learn more | India, Bangladesh | Multiple | Spices |
| Black Pepper |  | Learn more | Multiple | Spices | ||
| Smoked Paprika |  | Best to use within 6 -12 months. | Learn more | Global (widely cultivated) | Multiple | Spices |
| Ground Crayfish |  | Learn more | Nigeria, Cameroon | Multiple | Spices | |
| Suya Pepper |  | Homemade: 3 to 6 months (when stored properly); Store-Bought Brands: Up to 1 year (refer to packaging for details). | Learn more | Nigeria | Suya | Spices |
| Spinach |  | 1 week (fresh) | Persia (Iran) | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Nigerian Chili Pepper |  | 6-12 months (dried) | Nigeria | Multiple | Spices | |
| Ogbono |  | Whole Seeds: Up to 1 year Ground: 3-6 Months | Learn more | Nigeria | Ogbono Soup | Seeds |
| Garlic Powder |  | 6-12 months (refer to packaging). | Learn more | Asia | Multiple | Spices |
| Garlic |  | 3-6 months | Central Asia, Iran | Multiple | Spices | |
| Waterleaf |  | 2-3 days (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen) | Learn more | West Africa, Central America | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Efo Shoko (also known as Celosia argentea, Celosia, Chinese Woolflower, Quail grass, Feather Cockscomb, and Soko) |  | Nigeria | Efo Riro | Vegetable | ||
| Okra or Okro |  | 3-5 days (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen) | Learn more | Africa, South Asia | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Sliced Ugwu |  | Learn more | Nigeria | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Cilantro (Coriander Leaves) |  | 1-2 weeks (fresh); 6 months (frozen) | Learn more | Mediterranean, Southern Europe, North Africa | Multiple | Herb |
| Yams |  | 2-3 weeks (room temperature); 2-3 months (cool storage) | Learn more | Africa, Asia, South America | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Ground Cinnamon |  | Homemade (Freshly Ground) - 6 months to 1 year (optimal freshness) Store-Bought Brands - Up to 2 years (check the packaging for expiration details) | Primarily sourced from Sri Lanka (Ceylon cinnamon), China, Indonesia, and Vietnam (Cassia cinnamon). | Multiple | Spices | |
| Thyme |  | 1-2 years (dried); 1-2 weeks (fresh) | Learn more | Mediterranean region (Greece, Italy, Turkey) | Multiple | Herb |
| Ewedu Leaf |  | Learn more | Nigeria | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Ugu or Ugwu Leaf |  | Learn more | Nigeria | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Boniato Sweet Potatoes or Batata |  | 2-3 weeks (room temperature); 2-3 months (cool storage) | Learn more | South America | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Dried Hibiscus Flowers |  | 1-2 years | Learn more | Africa, Asia, Central America | Hibiscus Tea, Zobo, Agua de Jamaica, Sobolo, Bissap, Karkade, Carcade, and Roselle. | Herb |
| Dried Basil |  | 5-7 days (fresh); 6 months (frozen); 1-2 years (dried) | India, Southeast Asia | Multiple | Herb | |
| Kale |  | 5-7 days (fresh); 10-12 months (frozen) | Eastern Mediterranean, Asia Minor | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Parsley |  | 1-2 weeks (fresh); 6 months (frozen); 1-2 years (dried) | Mediterranean region | Multiple | Herb | |
| Brown Beans |  | 1 year (dried); 3-5 days (cooked, refrigerated) | Africa, Central America | Multiple | Seeds | |
| Cassava Roots |  | 1-2 weeks (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen) | South America, widely cultivated in Africa | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Cassava Leaves |  | 2-3 days (fresh); 6-12 months (blanched and frozen) | South America, widely cultivated in Africa | Multiple | Vegetable | |
| Bitter Kola |  | 3-6 months (fresh); 1 year (dried) | West Africa | Snacks | Seeds | |
| Garden Egg |  | 3-5 days (fresh); 6 months (frozen) | Learn more | Africa | Snacks | Vegetable |
| Agbalumo (African Star Apple) |  | 3-5 days (fresh); 2-3 months (frozen) | Learn more | West Africa | Snacks | Fruit |
| Washed Bitter Leaf |  | 2-3 days (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen or dried) | Learn more | Africa | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Bitter Leaf |  | 2-3 days (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen or dried) | Learn more | Africa | Multiple | Vegetable |
| Tiger Nuts |  | 1 year (dried); 3-5 days (soaked, refrigerated) | Learn more | Africa, Mediterranean region | Multiple | Seeds |
| Sugarcane |  | 7-10 days (fresh); 6-12 months (frozen) | Learn more | Southeast Asia, Africa | Multiple | Grass (Sweet Stem) |
| Ground Egusi (Melon Seeds) |  | Ground Seeds: Use within 3 - 4 months. | Learn more | West Africa | Multiple | Seeds |
| Nutritional Yeast |  | Learn more | Global (widely cultivated) | Multiple | Food Additive (Deactivated Yeast) |