Here’s a glossary of the herbs & spices in common use in both international and Chilean cuisine. I have not actually found every single one in Chile but am including the complete list so you’ll have the translations and will at least be able to ask for all of them.
Good places to look for uncommon herbs and spices are Jumbo and Tostaduría Talca.
Some Spanish words used in conjunction with these terms are:
- entero/a: whole
- molido/a: ground
- fresco/a: fresh
- seco/a: dried
| Name in English/U.S. | Name in Spanish/Chile | Comments |
| Basil | Albahaca | Widely available |
| Bay leaf | Laurel | Found everywhere |
| Cardamom | Cardamomo | |
| Celery seed | Semilla de apio | |
| Cinnamon | Canela | Found everywhere |
| Clove | Clavo de olor | Widely available |
| Cooking salt (coarse) | Sal gruesa de cocina | Found everywhere |
| Coriander | Semilla de cilantro | |
| Cumin | Comino | Found everywhere |
| Curry powder | Curry en polvo | |
| Dill | Eneldo | Found everywhere |
| Fenugreek | Fenogreco | |
| Garlic (granules) | Ajo granulado | |
| Garlic powder | Ajo en polvo | Found everywhere |
| Ginger | Gengibre fresco | |
| Mustard seed | Mostaza (semilla de) | |
| N/A | Merquén | Smoked red pepper of mapuche origin |
| Nutmeg | Nuez moscada | Widely available |
| Oregano | Orégano | Found everywhere |
| Paprika | Ají de color | Found everywhere |
| Pepper, black | Pimienta negra | |
| Pepper, white | Pimienta blanca | Widely available |
| Peppercorns | Pimienta entera | |
| Red pepper | Ají cacho de cabra | Very similiar, if not identical, to the red pepper you put on pizza |
| Rosemary | Romero | Widely available |
| Sage | Salvia | |
| Table salt (fine) | Sal fina de mesa | Found everywhere |
| Tarragon | Estragón | |
| Thyme | Tomillo | |
| Turmeric | Cúrcuma |