Herbies Spices | Mexican Spice Kit

More than just taco and nachos, Mexican food is alive with hearty beans and tomatoes, breads and vegetables. Meals are often quite heavily flavoured with chilli, however the recipes here are quite mild.

Spice Kit Contains

• Annatto Seeds

  • The key ingredient in Achiote Paste, Annatto is a powerful natural colour.
    Other Common Names: Achiote, Achuete, Bija, Bijol, Latkhan, Roucou, Lipstick Tree, Urucu, Natural Colour E1606, Botanical Name: (Bixa orellana).
    Description & Use: Annatto seeds are small, indented, pyramid-shaped seeds with a powdery, red-oxide-like covering. The flavour is mild, somewhat peppery and earthy. The popularity of natural colours in processed foods has made annatto a common ingredient, replacing many of the artificial colours that some people are allergic to. Annatto is essential for making achiote paste, a South American seasoning that is rubbed onto meat, particularly chicken, before cooking.
    
    Produce of China packed in Australia.

• Guacamole Mix

  • To make quick, tasty and all-natural guacamole.  Also great for dusting fish fillets before frying for fish tacos.
    Description & Use: Mix 2 teaspoons of Herbie’s Guacamole Mix with one mashed fresh large avocado.
    
    Blended and packed in Australia from imported and local ingredients.
    
    Contains: Onion, Garlic, Cumin, Red & Green Bell Peppers, Salt, Amchur (green Mango powder), Lemon, Pepper, Lemon Myrtle, Chilli, Oregano.
    Heat Level: 1 out of 10

• Mulato Chillies

  • A dark, mild, fruity-tasting chilli similar to ancho and used in mole sauce.
    Other Common Names: Botanical Name: (Capsicum annuum)
    Description & Use: There are literally hundreds of different chillies, all of which descend from the original ones discovered by the Spanish when they found the Americas. Prior to this chillies were unknown to the rest of the world. The warming bite and delicious capsicum taste of chilli was warmly embraced by nearly every nation on earth, thus we find some form of capsicum or chilli in nearly every cuisine. Dried chillies have a very different flavour to fresh ones, as upon drying a caramelization of the sugars takes place which creates a delicious, robust taste not found in fresh chillies, in the same way a sun-dried tomato has a more complex flavour profile than a fresh one.
    Mulato chillies are dark purple, almost black; mulato is similar to ancho and may be used in the same way.
    
    Produce of Mexico packed in Australia.
    
    Heat Level: 3 out of 10

• Mexican Spice Mix

  • The perfect all natural ingredients spice blend for families enjoying tacos, and to spice con carne.
    Other Common Names: Merken
    Description & Use: This Mexican Spice Blend is relatively mild due to the inclusion of paprika and cumin. Use to season mince for tacos and flavour Mexican meals in general, especially ones with beans. Give barbecued meat a lift by rubbing Mexican Spice Blend onto the surface before cooking. May be used as a substitute for the Chilean spice blend called Merken used in Mapuche cuisine.
    
    Blended & Packed in Australia from imported and local ingredients.
    
    Contains: Paprika, Cumin, Sea Salt, Smoked Paprika, Coriander seed, Amchur (green Mango powder), Chilli, Cinnamon, Coriander leaf (Cilantro), Mexican Oregano.
    Heat Level: 2 out of 10

• Cumin Seeds

  • Whole seeds are delicious when dry-roasted in a pan and added to Indian dishes.
    Other Common Names: Jeera, Kimyon, White Cumin. Botanical Name: (Cuminum cyminum).
    Description & Use: The seed of a small annual plant that looks similar to fennel when growing. Native to the Mediterranean and known for its characteristic ‘curry-like’ flavour. Features in Moroccan recipes, although often in smaller quantities than in Indian recipes. Ground cumin seeds are also an important ingredient in Mexican chilli powder, along with chilli and paprika. Whole cumin seeds will retain their flavour quite well, however when ground be sure to store carefully in Herbie’s pouch. Good quality ground cumin seeds should be khaki in colour and the powder has an ‘oily’ feel. Due to the relatively high oil content, ground cumin can be dry roasted in a pan quite easily and without burning. Black cumin seeds (Bunium persicum) are smaller than standard cumin, dark brown (not black) and are usually dry roasted before using. They are not to be confused with nigella seed (kolonji) which is often incorrectly sold as black cumin.
    
    Produce of India packed in Australia.

• Sweet Spice Dust

  • The perfect topping for cappuccinos. hot chocolate, yoghurt and smoothies.
    Description & Use: The perfect topping for cappuccino, hot chocolate, yoghurt, smoothies and desserts. Made with spices from the New World and the Old.
    With a good vanilla powder finally available to us, we’ve also been playing with a blend of treats from the New World … vanilla, chocolate, chilli … along with sugar, cassia, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, rose petals, and organic strawberry powder.   This sweet dust is perfect for sprinkling over those other New World discoveries dear to us all, coffee and hot chocolate.
    Keep a shaker of our sweet Spice Dust close by your home coffee machine – Montezuma would be jealous if he could see what he missed!   Not just for your hot drinks, you can use this delicious blend in any sweet cooking, even on porridge or mashed bananas.
    
    Blended and packed in Australia from imported and local ingredients.
    
    Contains: Cocoa, Cane Sugar, natural Strawberry powder, Cassia, Cinnamon, Rose Petals, Vanilla Bean powder, Ginger, Nutmeg, Green Cardamom, Pasilla Chilli

• Oregano

  • A strong tasting, rubbed leaf that gives excellent flavour to food.
    Other Common Names: Rigani, Wild Marjoram. Botanical Name: (Origanum vulgare).
    Description & Use: This robust annual Mediterranean herb has a strong savoury aroma and characteristic flavour that is associated with Italian cooking. Add dried Oregano leaves to soups, stews and casseroles. It flavours spaghetti bolognese, pizza and most pasta dishes. A little oregano goes well in mashed potato and bean dishes. Sprinkle on Greek Salads.
    
    Produce of Greece Packed in Australia

• Mole Poblano Spice Mix

  • Use this blend to make an authentic-tasting Mexican Mole Poblano (chicken with chocolate sauce).
    Description & Use: Mole poblano is the best known of all the Mexican mole sauces, and most often served at parties and celebrations. Its large variety of ingredients culminate in a complex, utterly delicious sauce, and it’s very easy to make.
    
    Blended and packed in Australia from imported ingredients.

    Contains: Pasilla and Chipotle Chilli, Cocoa, Salt, Cinnamon, Onion, Paprika, Aniseed, Black Pepper, Coriander Leaf, Cloves, Oregano.
    Heat Level: 2 out of 10

With additional recipes including

• Chicken with Chilli and Tequila
• Achiote Chicken Tostadas with Mango Sauce
• Recado Marinade with Olive and Orange Sauce
• Black Bean and Corn Soup
• Mole Poblano
• Mexican Fried Bananas
• Guacamole Chamacuero