Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
A Taste of Herbs & Spices: Ideas for Teaching
Intro: In Simon & Garfunkel’s song “Are you Going to Scarborough Fair?” There is a line “parsley, sage,
rosemary and thyme” that is repeated throughout. What is that line referring to? Listen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYQaD2CAi9A
Discuss: The song is referring to herbs. What are herbs? We often hear the phrase “herbs and spices”.
What are spices? Are herbs and spices nutritional? Are herbs and spices used beyond culinary reasons?
Let’s find out.
Activity #1
Read article http://dish.allrecipes.com/dried-herbs-and-spices/ and answer the following questions.
Spice or Herb? Create a Venn Diagram distinguishing between the two.
Tips for Cooking with Herbs:
Tips for Cooking with Spices:
Tips for Cooking with Leafy Herbs:
Fresh Herb to Dried Herb Conversion:
Doubling:
Freshness Test:
Storing Herbs
Activity #2
Name that Herb or Spice: Place herbs/spices in numbered Ziploc bags. Students are to gently sniff and
view each and try to determine which is which. Include a WORDLE bank of choices. Note: Use the 10
herbs and spices from the video clip below but don’t tell students. As we go over the correct answers
ask students if the sample was an herb or spice.
Activity #3
View the YouTube Clip: Top 10 Herbs & Spices and complete the questions below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxrolHJ0_f8
Why Beneficial? 3 Reasons
Top 10 Herbs & Spices/labeled as herbs or spices with explanation of benefit
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
True or False: All herbs and spices have nutritional value
Activity #4
Use this Chart to complete the template below:
http://www.foodandnutrition.com/appendix/spice_chart.htm
Name of Herb or Spice Type Characteristics Uses
Activity #5
Herbs & Spices Image Game
http://www.sporcle.com/games/triplet_3/herbs-and-spices-by-image
Lab: Taste Test Potatoes with herbs and spices
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
Taste Test Lab for Herbs & Spices
Kitchen #1: Potatoes & Herbs
Wash and dry potatoes.
Slice potatoes approximately 1/8 inch thick. Create three sections on a jelly roll pan and divide potatoes
evenly into three sections, laying each as flat and close together as possible. You want enough potatoes
that each person can sample from each section of herb flavors. Brush each section of potatoes with
olive oil. Sprinkle the following dried herbs to each section. You can sprinkle with parmesan cheese as
well but this is optional.
Section 1: Rosemary Section 2: Thyme Section 3: Parsley
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the thinnest slices are golden brown. Sample and
evaluate.
Kitchen #2: Potatoes & Herbs
Wash and dry potatoes
Slice potatoes approximately 1/8 inch thick. Create three sections on a jelly roll pan and divide potatoes
evenly into three sections, laying each as flat and close together as possible. You want enough potatoes
that each person can sample from each section of herb flavors. Brush each section of potatoes with
olive oil. Sprinkle the following dried herbs to each section. You can sprinkle with parmesan cheese as
well but this is optional.
Section 4: Oregano Section 5: Basil Section 6: Garlic Powder
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the thinnest slices are golden brown. Sample and
evaluate.
Kitchen #3: Potatoes & Herbs
Wash and dry potatoes
Slice potatoes approximately 1/8 inch thick. Create three sections on a jelly roll pan and divide potatoes
evenly into three sections, laying each as flat and close together as possible. You want enough potatoes
that each person can sample from each section of herb flavors. Brush each section of potatoes with
olive oil. Sprinkle the following dried herbs to each section. You can sprinkle with parmesan cheese as
well but this is optional.
Section 7: Cumin Section 8: Ginger Section 9: Tumeric
Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until the thinnest slices are golden brown. Sample and
evaluate.
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
Herbs & Spices Taste Test Evaluation
Herb
Describe how this
herb LOOKS/SMELLS
Describe how this
herb TASTES
Score
ROSEMARY
THYME
PARSLEY
OREGANO
BASIL
GARLIC
CUMIN
GINGER
TUMERIC
CINNAMON
(optional with potatoes)
Scoring: 5 -
Excellent
4 -
Pretty Good
3 - Okay 2 - Bad 1 - Terrible
Comments:
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
Herbs & Spices Activities
Activity #1
Scan the code to read an article
http://dish.allrecipes.com/dried-herbs-and-spices/ about
herbs and spices and then answer the following questions in
complete sentences.
Spice or Herb?
Create a Venn Diagram distinguishing between the two.
Summarize the tips for Cooking with Herbs:
Summarize the tips for Cooking with Spices:
Summarize the tips for Cooking with Leafy Herbs:
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
What is the Fresh Herb to Dried Herb Conversion?
Recommendation for Doubling:
Describe the Freshness Test:
How do you Store Herbs?
Activity #2
Name that Herb or Spice: Gently sniff and look at each of the numbered
samples. Try to determine which is herb or spice is which. Use the WORDLE to
assist you.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Kim Graybill/FamilyConsumerSciences.com
Activity #3
View the YouTube Clip by scanning the code or clicking the link:
Top 10 Herbs & Spices and answer the questions in complete
sentences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxrolHJ0_f8
Why are herbs and spices beneficial to our health? 3 Reasons
Define the terms phytochemicals and antioxidants:
Top 10 Herbs & Spices with explanation of health benefit(s).
True or False: All herbs and spices have nutritional value.
