herbs & spices

herbs & spices

Alkaline Herbs & Spices Guide

Enhance Your Wellness with Nature's Flavorful Healing Herbs & Spices

At Azin & MelanAid, we encourage a wellness lifestyle centered around nutrient-dense alkaline plant foods. Herbs and spices have been valued throughout history for their culinary, aromatic, and nutritional properties. They provide natural flavors, antioxidants, beneficial plant compounds, vitamins, and minerals that complement a balanced alkaline lifestyle.

The herbs and spices listed below form an important part of our Alkaline Wellness Program and may be used to season meals, prepare herbal infusions, create wellness tonics, enhance soups and salads, and support a flavorful plant-based diet. Many of these herbs are also commonly grown and enjoyed throughout Saint Lucia and the Caribbean.

Basil

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Bazilik

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports overall wellness
• Adds fresh flavor to meals
• Contains beneficial plant compounds

Serving Size

• 1–2 tablespoons fresh leaves

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 2 per tablespoon

Vitamins

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Minerals

• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium

Additional Information

Basil is a fragrant herb commonly used fresh or dried. It may be added to salads, soups, sauces, herbal teas, vegetable dishes, dressings, and wellness tonics. Fresh basil pairs exceptionally well with tomatoes, avocados, cucumbers, and leafy greens.

Cayenne Pepper

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Piman Wouj

Benefits

• Supports circulation
• Rich in antioxidants
• Adds natural heat and flavor
• Contains capsaicin

Serving Size

• ¼–½ teaspoon

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 6 per teaspoon

Vitamins

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Minerals

• Potassium
• Manganese

Additional Information

Cayenne pepper is a vibrant spice made from dried peppers. It may be added to soups, herbal drinks, sauces, seasonings, vegetable dishes, and wellness preparations. A small amount provides significant flavor.

Cloves

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Jirof

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports oral wellness
• Aromatic and flavorful
• Contains beneficial plant compounds

Serving Size

• 1–3 whole cloves or ¼ teaspoon ground

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 6 per teaspoon

Vitamins

• Vitamin K

Minerals

• Manganese
• Calcium

Additional Information

Cloves are dried flower buds traditionally used in herbal preparations, teas, warming beverages, fruit dishes, desserts, and spice blends. They provide a distinctive sweet and aromatic flavor.

Dill

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Dil

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports digestive wellness
• Adds fresh herbal flavor

Serving Size

• 1 tablespoon fresh dill

Vitamins

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Minerals

• Calcium
• Iron

Additional Information

Dill is commonly used fresh in salads, dressings, soups, sauces, vegetable dishes, and herbal infusions. Its light flavor pairs well with cucumbers and leafy greens.

Habanero Pepper

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Piman Bonn

Benefits

• Rich in vitamin C
• Supports circulation
• Contains antioxidant compounds
• Adds intense flavor

Serving Size

• Small amounts as desired

Vitamins

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A

Minerals

• Potassium

Additional Information

Habanero peppers are widely used throughout the Caribbean. They may be added to sauces, soups, seasonings, marinades, and vegetable dishes. Use according to heat tolerance.

Onion Powder

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Poud Zonyon

Benefits

• Convenient seasoning option
• Adds savory flavor
• Contains natural onion compounds

Serving Size

• ½ teaspoon

Vitamins

• Trace B Vitamins

Minerals

• Potassium
• Manganese

Additional Information

Onion powder is made from dehydrated onions and can be used in soups, sauces, dressings, vegetable dishes, grain bowls, and seasoning blends.

Oregano

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Origan

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports overall wellness
• Highly aromatic

Serving Size

• 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh

Vitamins

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin A

Minerals

• Iron
• Calcium
• Manganese

Additional Information

Oregano is widely used in soups, sauces, vegetable dishes, herbal teas, and seasoning blends. Fresh and dried forms both provide excellent flavor.

Thyme

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Tenm

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports respiratory wellness
• Adds savory flavor

Serving Size

• 1 tablespoon fresh or 1 teaspoon dried

Vitamins

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A

Minerals

• Iron
• Manganese

Additional Information

Thyme is one of the most commonly used herbs in Caribbean cooking. It is ideal for soups, broths, vegetable dishes, herbal infusions, and seasoning blends.

Pure Sea Salt

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Sèl Lanmè

Benefits

• Provides trace minerals
• Enhances natural flavors
• Supports electrolyte balance

Serving Size

• Use sparingly

Minerals

• Sodium
• Magnesium (trace amounts)
• Potassium (trace amounts)

Additional Information

Pure sea salt is obtained through the evaporation of seawater. Choose unrefined sea salt whenever possible to retain naturally occurring trace minerals.

Chives

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Siboulèt

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Supports immune wellness
• Adds mild onion flavor

Serving Size

• 1 tablespoon chopped

Vitamins

• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C

Minerals

• Potassium
• Calcium

Additional Information

Chives are commonly used fresh in salads, dressings, soups, grain bowls, vegetable dishes, and garnishes.

Shadow Beni

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Chadon Beni

Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants
• Popular Caribbean culinary herb
• Highly aromatic and flavorful

Serving Size

• 1–2 leaves or as desired

Vitamins

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Minerals

• Iron
• Calcium

Additional Information

Shadow Beni (also known as Culantro) is a staple herb throughout the Caribbean. It is commonly used in green seasonings, soups, stews, sauces, herbal preparations, and vegetable dishes. Its flavor is stronger than cilantro and highly valued in traditional Caribbean cuisine.

Benne (Sesame Seed)

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Benn

Benefits

• Rich in healthy fats
• Provides plant protein
• Excellent source of minerals

Serving Size

• 1 tablespoon

Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 52
• Protein: 2g
• Healthy Fats: 4.5g

Vitamins

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Minerals

• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Zinc

Additional Information

Benne is the traditional African and Caribbean name for sesame seeds. They may be sprinkled over salads, grain bowls, vegetables, smoothies, and alkaline breads or incorporated into homemade tahini and dressings.

Ginger

Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl) Name: Jenjanm

Benefits

• Supports digestive wellness
• Rich in antioxidants
• Adds warming flavor
• Commonly used in herbal preparations

Serving Size

• 1–2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

Vitamins

• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C

Minerals

• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Manganese

Additional Information

Ginger is a versatile root widely used throughout the Caribbean. It may be consumed fresh, juiced, grated, blended into smoothies, steeped as tea, added to soups, vegetable dishes, wellness tonics, and herbal preparations.

Important Program Guideline

The herbs and spices listed in this guide are the primary seasonings recommended within the Azin & MelanAid Alkaline Wellness Program. They provide natural flavor while complementing an alkaline lifestyle built around whole plant foods. For best results, we encourage clients to use fresh, organic, and minimally processed herbs and spices whenever possible.

ALKALINE FOOD GUIDE

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ready to accelerate your detox & repair journey? discover our alkaline food guide and learn the simple food choices that can help support your body's natural cleansing and recovery processes, making it easier to build momentum toward your wellness goals.

your results don't just depend on the products you use they depend on the foods you choose every day. our alkaline food guide is designed to help you identify the nourishing, whole foods that support your body's natural detoxification and repair processes while reducing many of the highly processed and acidic foods that may contribute to imbalance. by following this easy to use guide alongside your wellness routine, you can create a stronger foundation for energy, balance, and recovery. whether you're beginning your health transformation or looking to maximize your detox & repair journey, this guide provides the knowledge and direction needed to help support faster progress toward your wellness goals. individual results may vary.