National Herbs and Spices Day
June 10
About National Herbs and Spices Day
National Herbs and Spices Day is celebrated every year on 10 June. The day shines on the small but powerful ingredients that give food its flavour, encouraging people to cook with fresh herbs, experiment with spices, and appreciate the long history these flavourings have shaped across the world.
How to Celebrate National Herbs and Spices Day
This is a day made for the kitchen, so the best way to take part is to start cooking and tasting.
- Cook a recipe built around one spice – Pick a single spice such as cumin, cinnamon, or smoked paprika and build a dish around it so you really notice what it brings.
- Start a small herb garden – A windowsill pot of basil, mint, parsley, or chives gives you fresh leaves on demand and costs very little to keep going.
- Make your own spice blend – Mix up a curry powder, a barbecue rub, or a za’atar blend at home so you can adjust the balance to your own taste.
- Refresh your spice rack – Ground spices lose their punch over time, so check the dates and replace anything stale. Buying whole spices and grinding them as needed keeps flavours sharper for longer.
- Try a cuisine you rarely cook – Explore the spice traditions of India, Mexico, Morocco, or Thailand to discover combinations you would not normally reach for.
- Add fresh herbs at the end – Stir delicate herbs like coriander, dill, or parsley into a dish just before serving so they keep their colour and aroma.
- Learn the story behind a spice – Read about how pepper, nutmeg, or saffron travelled the world and shaped trade and history.
- Share your favourite combination – Post the herb and spice pairing you cannot cook without and pick up new ideas from others.
What is National Herbs and Spices Day?
National Herbs and Spices Day is a food holiday that celebrates the enormous variety of flavourings used in kitchens around the world. Herbs are the leaves of plants, often used fresh, while spices come from seeds, bark, roots, and other parts, usually dried. Together they transform plain ingredients into memorable meals. The day is embraced by home cooks, chefs, and food lovers as a chance to experiment with flavour and to recognise how central these ingredients are to almost every cuisine on the planet.
When is National Herbs and Spices Day?
National Herbs and Spices Day falls on Wednesday, 10 June 2026. It is observed on the same date every year, so the celebration stays fixed in the calendar.
The History of National Herbs and Spices Day
The exact origins of the day are not well documented, which is common for modern food holidays. It has been observed in its current form from around 2015, when the words national and spices were added to an earlier celebration. Before that, the closest predecessor was a simple Herb Day, references to which go back to about 1999.
The ingredients themselves have a far older and richer story. Herbs and spices have been prized for thousands of years, used not only to flavour food but also in medicine, preservation, and religious ceremony. The Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, who lived from 742 to 814, was so fond of them that he compiled a list of dozens of herbs to be grown in his gardens.
Spices were once among the most valuable commodities on earth. At times they were used as currency, and the spice trade drove exploration, shaped empires, and connected distant continents. Pepper was so prized that it was demanded as part of a ransom during the siege of Rome in 410, and nutmeg could, at certain points in history, be worth more than its weight in gold. National Herbs and Spices Day gives a nod to this remarkable heritage while encouraging people to make the most of these ingredients today.
Noteworthy Facts About National Herbs and Spices Day
- The day has been observed in its current form since around 2015, evolving from an earlier Herb Day dating to roughly 1999.
- Charlemagne is said to have ordered dozens of different herbs to be planted in his royal gardens.
- Pepper was once so valuable that it was demanded as ransom during the occupation of Rome in 410.
- Nutmeg has, at various points in history, been worth more than its weight in gold.
- The difference between herbs and spices comes down to the part of the plant used: herbs are leaves, while spices come from seeds, bark, roots, and similar parts.
Why National Herbs and Spices Day Matters
Herbs and spices let cooks add flavour without relying on extra salt, sugar, or fat, making them a simple route to tastier and often healthier food. They also carry deep cultural meaning, with regional blends passed down through generations. Celebrating them is a way to honour both the craft of cooking and the global history of trade and exploration they helped drive. If you enjoy days that celebrate cooking from scratch, you might also like National Eat Your Vegetables Day, since the right seasoning is what makes vegetables shine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Herbs and Spices Day?
It is an annual food holiday celebrating the herbs and spices that flavour cuisines around the world. People mark it by cooking with new flavours, growing herbs, and learning about the history of these ingredients.
When is National Herbs and Spices Day in 2026?
National Herbs and Spices Day is on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, and it falls on the same date every year.
What is the difference between a herb and a spice?
A herb is the leafy green part of a plant, often used fresh, such as basil or parsley. A spice comes from other parts of a plant, such as seeds, bark, or roots, and is usually dried, such as cinnamon or cumin.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your favourite flavour combinations on social media with #NationalHerbsAndSpicesDay and #HerbsAndSpicesDay2026. Tag your friends and swap your best seasoning tips!
Related Awareness Days
- National Eat Your Vegetables Day – A June food day about getting more vegetables on the plate, made far tastier with the right herbs and spices.
- National Polyphenol Day – A celebration of the beneficial plant compounds found in many herbs and spices.
- Culinarians Day – A day honouring chefs and cooks, the people who put herbs and spices to their best use.
Links
2026 Awareness Days Wall Planner
Every key awareness day at a glance. Perfect for offices, staff rooms, and team planning.
View Calendar →
