The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World

Name: The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs: An Essential Guide to the Flavors of the World
Price: 3.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.6 (753 reviews)
Author: Padma Lakshmi

by Padma Lakshmi

Nonfiction Cookbooks

4.6 (753)

4.6 stars from 753 reviews. Top 92% of Nonfiction books we track.

335 pages~5.6 hr readPublished by HarperCollins PublishersPublished 2016-01-01

$3.99Deal87% off peak

Last checked: Jun 17, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $31.16

Good deal — this title is discounted today.

Price range: $1.99 – $31.16

Buy on Amazon - $3.99

0 readers are tracking this book's price

Fans of these authors will like this...

Ruth Reichl
Eric Ripert
Yotam Ottolenghi

Fans of these books will like this...

Salt Fat Acid Heat
The Flavor Bible
Mastering Spices

Perfect for you if...

You cook regularly and want to understand what you're actually using beyond salt and pepper.
You travel or eat cuisines from around the world and want to decode unfamiliar spices on ingredient lists.
You appreciate beautiful food books that work equally well on the kitchen counter or coffee table.

Maybe not for you if...

You're looking for recipes rather than ingredient knowledge and reference material.
You prefer minimal, decluttered kitchen resources over comprehensive A-to-Z guides.
You have no interest in the history, origins, or stories behind your seasonings.

About this book

Padma Lakshmi, Emmy-nominated host of Top Chef and award-winning cookbook author, presents an alphabetical compendium of spices, herbs, salts, peppers, and blends from around the world. Drawn from her extensive travels, the book features rich color photography and complete descriptions, histories, and cooking suggestions for ingredients ranging from basic herbs to exotic seeds and chilies. The Encyclopedia of Spices & Herbs includes practical information on toasting spices, making teas, and infusing oils and vinegars. The book also features photographs from Kalustyan's, the iconic New York gourmet food store where Lakshmi spent much of her childhood. Entries span from advieh to zedoary, covering both familiar seasonings and less common ingredients.

Get the best deal every time

We track price drops, sale patterns, and predict when this book will go on offer next.

Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $31.16

Currently on sale at $3.99 — 87% off peak. Price has dropped 21 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 102 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #668K in the Kindle store — a niche title.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.6★ from 753 reviews

Gaining approximately 2 new reviews per month. Rating has dipped slightly from 4.7 to 4.6.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book is currently discounted at $3.99. It typically returns to around $31.16.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.