Wonderful Christmas Spices

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without our favourite goodies - from gingerbread to mulled wine to delicious biscuits - and what would these treats be without the right spices?

Christmas spices can be found in many dishes and they all have one thing in common: with their seductive fragrance and incomparable taste, they get us in the Christmas mood!

Let's take a closer look at the most important Christmas spices:

Anise comes ground or in whole seeds. It grows on a Mediterranean shrub. As a Christmas spice, it is found in gingerbread, honey cake, biscuits and more. Anise ensures that treats are easier to digest as it calms the stomach and the intestines.

Cloves are found in mulled wine, punch and gingerbread. The dried flower buds strengthen the stomach, relieve bloating and help with diarrhoea. If you have a toothache, you can chew on a clove instead of taking painkillers. The eugenol contained in the cloves has an anaesthetic effect.

Allspice is closely related to cloves and can be found in biscuits and baked apples. The rich flavour of the spice means it can be used in many dishes as it tastes like a combination of nutmeg, cloves, pepper and cinnamon. The essential oils contained in the allspice help digestion and relieve flatulence. In addition, allspice is said to have a relaxing effect.

Ginger is often found in gingerbread and biscuits. It contains many essential oils that give it a spicy taste and have a warming effect. Ginger contains many anti-inflammatory substances and can help relieve pain.

Cardamom is one of the most expensive spices in the world. It is closely related to ginger and comes from India. The root has a sweet and spicy taste and is used in gingerbread. Cardamom has a beneficial effect on digestion.

Coriander is an ingredient in gingerbread and can help with stomach cramps or support digestion.

Vanilla is another very expensive spice, but has sweet notes and a mood-enhancing effect and thus contributes to more relaxation around Christmas stress.

Nutmeg is also often found in biscuits. It has a calming effect and should be used in moderation.

Last but not least, do not forget about cinnamon. Cinnamon is an absolute classic and is found in almost all Advent dishes. The spice is obtained from the bark of evergreen cinnamon trees. There are two types: the spicier Cassia cinnamon and the milder, less common Ceylon cinnamon.