Flavourings in Food
Flavourings add or enhance taste. On UK labels "flavouring" and "natural flavouring" are defined terms, and the individual components of a flavouring usually do not have to be listed.
Flavouring
Flavourings are substances added to food to impart or modify its taste and/or odour. They can be derived from natural …
What is Flavouring? →
Natural flavouring
Natural flavourings are derived from plant or animal sources, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, or animal products. They are …
What is Natural flavouring? →
Black pepper
Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae. The fruit of the vine, known as a …
What is Black pepper? →
Yeast extract
Yeast extract is made from yeast cells, typically *Saccharomyces cerevisiae*. The cell walls are broken down, releasing the inner contents, …
What is Yeast extract? →
White pepper
White pepper is derived from the dried, unripe fruit of the Piper nigrum plant, the same species as black pepper. …
What is White pepper? →
Cumin
Cumin is a spice derived from the dried seed of the Cuminum cyminum plant, which is native to the Middle …
What is Cumin? →
Spice
Spices are aromatic or pungent vegetable substances used for flavouring food. They are typically derived from dried seeds, fruits, roots, …
What is Spice? →
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is the seed of the evergreen tree *Myristica fragrans*, native to the Banda Islands in Indonesia. The seed is …
What is Nutmeg? →
Oregano
Oregano is a herb native to the Mediterranean region. It is the leaves of the oregano plant, which are typically …
What is Oregano? →
Clove
Cloves are the dried flower buds of the clove tree (Syzygium aromaticum), native to Indonesia. The buds are harvested by …
What is Clove? →
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice derived from the inner bark of several trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. The bark is …
What is Cinnamon? →
Thyme
Thyme is a herb native to the Mediterranean region, belonging to the mint family. It is cultivated for its aromatic …
What is Thyme? →
Mustard
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant, which are ground and mixed with water, vinegar, …
What is Mustard? →
Flavour enhancer
Flavour enhancers are substances added to food to intensify or modify its existing flavour and aroma. They can be naturally …
What is Flavour enhancer? →
Smoked paprika
Smoked paprika is a spice made from peppers that have been dried and then smoked over wood, typically oak. The …
What is Smoked paprika? →
Monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, a naturally occurring amino acid. It is produced industrially through …
What is Monosodium glutamate? →
Sage
Sage is an aromatic herb derived from the leaves of the Salvia officinalis plant, a perennial evergreen shrub native to …
What is Sage? →
Ginger powder
Ginger powder is made from the dried rhizome (underground stem) of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale). The rhizomes are cleaned, …
What is Ginger powder? →
Spice extract
Spice extract is a concentrated flavouring derived from spices. It is produced by extracting the aromatic and flavour compounds from …
What is Spice extract? →
Cocoa powder
Cocoa powder is made from dried and ground cocoa beans, the seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). The beans …
What is Cocoa powder? →
Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is a liquid flavouring made by macerating and extracting the vanilla bean pod in alcohol and water. The …
What is Vanilla extract? →
Soy sauce
Soy sauce is a dark, savoury liquid condiment made from fermented soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and Aspergillus mould. It originated …
What is Soy sauce? →
Natural vanilla flavouring
Natural vanilla flavouring is derived from the vanilla bean, the fruit of certain orchid species. The flavour compounds are extracted …
What is Natural vanilla flavouring? →
Mustard seed
Mustard seeds are the small, round seeds of various mustard plants, such as Brassica juncea (brown mustard) and Sinapis alba …
What is Mustard seed? →
Cardamom
Cardamom is a spice derived from the seeds of several plants in the ginger family, native to the Indian subcontinent. …
What is Cardamom? →
Herb
Herbs are plants or parts of plants used for their savoury or aromatic qualities. They can be fresh or dried …
What is Herb? →
Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Its needle-like leaves have a strong, pungent …
What is Rosemary? →
Pepper
Peppercorns are the dried berries of the Piper nigrum vine, native to South Asia. They are harvested when ripe and …
What is Pepper? →
Yeast extract powder
Yeast extract powder is made from yeast, a single-celled fungus. The yeast cells are broken down, and the contents are …
What is Yeast extract powder? →
Fenugreek
Fenugreek is a herb in the pea family (Fabaceae), native to southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Its seeds, leaves, …
What is Fenugreek? →
Smoke flavouring
Smoke flavouring is produced by the controlled combustion of wood or other organic materials, followed by the capture and processing …
What is Smoke flavouring? →
Mace
Mace is a spice derived from the aril, a bright red, lacy covering that surrounds the nutmeg seed. After harvesting, …
What is Mace? →
Cracked black pepper
Cracked black pepper is derived from the dried berries of the Piper nigrum plant, a flowering vine native to South …
What is Cracked black pepper? →
Star anise
Star anise is the star-shaped fruit of the *Illicium verum* tree, native to Vietnam and China. The star-shaped fruits are …
What is Star anise? →
Black pepper extract
Black pepper extract is a concentrated flavouring derived from the dried berries of the Piper nigrum plant, commonly known as …
What is Black pepper extract? →
Barley malt vinegar
Barley malt vinegar is a type of vinegar made from malt vinegar that has been brewed from barley. The brewing …
What is Barley malt vinegar? →
Caramel
Caramel is a rich brown colour and flavour produced by heating sugars, typically sucrose. The process, known as caramelisation, involves …
What is Caramel? →
Allspice
Allspice is the dried unripe fruit of the Pimenta dioica tree, native to the Caribbean. The name comes from the …
What is Allspice? →
Lemon oil
Lemon oil is a volatile essential oil extracted from the peel of lemons (Citrus limon). It is typically obtained through …
What is Lemon oil? →
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide
Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide is a flavour enhancer. It is produced commercially through the fermentation of carbohydrates by specific strains of microorganisms. …
What is Disodium 5'-ribonucleotide? →
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a tall, perennial grass native to tropical Asia. It has a distinctive citrusy aroma and flavour, and is …
What is Lemongrass? →
Fennel seed
Fennel seeds are the dried seeds of the fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare), a herb in the parsley family. Native to …
What is Fennel seed? →
Vegetable broth
Vegetable broth is a savoury liquid made by simmering vegetables, herbs, and spices in water. It forms the flavour base …
What is Vegetable broth? →
Chicken broth
Chicken broth is a savoury liquid made by simmering chicken bones, meat, and sometimes vegetables and herbs in water. The …
What is Chicken broth? →
Cassia
Cassia is a spice derived from the bark of trees belonging to the genus *Cinnamomum*. It is closely related to …
What is Cassia? →
Dried oregano
Dried oregano is a herb derived from the leaves of the oregano plant (Origanum vulgare), a perennial herb from the …
What is Dried oregano? →
Dijon mustard
Dijon mustard is a traditional mustard originating from the city of Dijon in France. It is made from ground mustard …
What is Dijon mustard? →
Disodium guanylate
Disodium guanylate is a flavour enhancer. It is produced commercially through the fermentation of carbohydrates by specific microorganisms, followed by …
What is Disodium guanylate? →
Orange essential oil
Orange essential oil is a concentrated oil extracted from the peel of oranges (Citrus × sinensis). The oil is typically …
What is Orange essential oil? →
Cinnamon powder
Cinnamon powder is a spice made from the inner bark of trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. The bark is …
What is Cinnamon powder? →
Other ingredient types
Note:
This site presents label data from Open Food Facts for general information. It is not medical advice.
Check the package label; formulations change.