When preparing our native and local dishes, we discovered that the major dishes were prepared with various herbs and spices. In fact, it was considered impolite to prepare a meal without the use of herbs and spices in ancient times.
Have you ever wondered what makes older chefs still relevant, even with the little effort they put into preparing their food? Well, spices and herbs are the answer.
But, what about currently? It’s understandable, though, since most of them have gone extinct or have not been passed down to us.
Most of these herbs and spices are distinct and not common in many parts of the country. You might even know some of them, but with a different name.
Read on to find out more about the herbs and spices, starting with R.
Herbs that start with R (uses, health benefits, and where to buy them)
Below is a long list of herbs starting with R.
- River Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum)
- Red Bamboo Ginger (Alpinia luteocarpa)
- Red Aphelandra (Aphelandra tetragona)
- Red-angle tampoi (Baccaurea angulata)
- Rambai (Baccaurea motleyana)
- River Putat (Barringtonia conoidea)
- Rex begonia (Begonia rex-cultorum)
- Rumutuat (Burkillanthus malaccensis)
- Red Powder Puff (Calliandra haematocephala)
- Red Fox (Celosia argentea)
- Rumput lilit kain (Centotheca lappacea)
- Rex Begonia Vine (Cissus discolor)
- Red-flowered sea grape (Coccoloba rugosa)
- Red Dracaena (Cordyline fruticosa)
- Rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida)
- Rattleweed (Crotalaria retusa)
- Root spine palm (Cryosophila stauracantha)
- Redneck Palm (Dypsis leptocheilos)
- Red Zebrina (Goeppertia ecuatoriana)
- Red Ginger Lily (Hedychium coccineum)
- Royal Jasmine (Jasminum nobile)
- Rose Jasmine (Jasminum sambac)
- Red Mahogany (Khaya nyasica)
- Rawa (Mangifera griffithii)
- Red-top (Melinis repens)
Read on to learn more about some of the herbs listed.
1. RIVER MANGROVE
Aegiceras corniculatum is the botanical name given to river mangroves. It is a small tree that could be found in the wild as a naturally occurring tree or planted in gardens. The evergreen shrub is native to the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, the Indian Subcontinent, Vietnam, and southern China. The river mangrove does well in muddy flats, mangrove swamps, and coastal regions.
Uses of the river mangrove
The wood from the tree is used in making knife handles and as fuel because of its heavy and hard nature.
Health benefits of river mangrove
- River mangroves are being taken by patients suffering from hematuria (urination with blood).
- It has analgesic plant-based properties, which aid in fighting cancerous cells.
Where can you buy river mangrove?
You can purchase Aegiceras corniculatum from Mangrove Preserve and Amazon.
2. RED BAMBOO GINGER
The scientific name for red bamboo ginger is Alpinia luteocarpa, and it is also given other common names like colic root, alpine, China root, Chinese ginger, gargauth, etc. It is related to the ginger and turmeric families and is native to the Philippines, India, the Malay Peninsula, and Thailand.
Uses of red bamboo ginger
The rhizome of red bamboo ginger is used in making traditional and Ayurvedic medicines.
Health benefits of red bamboo ginger
- It has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Medicines produced with Alpinia luteocarpa contain antioxidants that are used in treating infections, spasms, fever, intestinal gas, and bleeding.
- Polyphenol in red bamboo ginger is an antioxidant that improves memory and lowers cholesterol and blood sugar.
- Galangin is an active plant-based compound in Alpinia luteocarpa that may get rid of cancerous cells.
Where can you buy red bamboo ginger?
Red bamboo ginger can be purchased at Walmart Supercenters, Sprout Home, top tropical garden centers, Etsy, Amazon, eBay, and other online retailers.
3. RED ANGLED TAMPOI
The red-angle tampoi is scientifically known as Baccaurea angulata. It is from the Euphorbiaceae family and is native to Borneo. It grows comfortably in a fertile, well-drained, moist loamy soil.
Uses of red angle tampoi
Its fruits can be used in making jams and medicines.
Health benefits of red angle tampoi
- Copper found in red angled tampoi is beneficial for the treatment of arthritis and the protection of your cardiovascular, skeletal, and nervous health.
- Red angled tampoi is rich in manganese, which assists in improving bone density, absorption of minerals in food, and preventing osteoporosis.
- Zinc on the red angled tampoi aids the white blood cells in defending the body from canker sores, surgical incisions, wounds, and ulcers.
- Consumption of Baccaurea angulata provides iron to the body, which in turn is responsible for the dark red blood shade, the maintenance of muscle tissues, regulation of the body temperature, and transportation of oxygen to the body cells.
Where can you buy red angle tampoi?
You can purchase red-angle tampons from Walmart’s supercenter.
4. RAMBAI
Scientifically known as Baccaurea motleyana, rambai is a popular plant that is native to Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia (the south-east regions of Asia). Some other common names of Rambai include Rambeh, Pekang, Bua Trai, Ramie, Duo Mai, Pahae, etc. This evergreen plant should be grown in open scrub vegetation and lowland primary and secondary rain forests.
Uses of rambai
It is used to produce both traditional and Ayurvedic medicines.
Health benefits of rambai
- The Rambai fruit has low amounts of phenolics, fats, and organic acid.
- Its tree parts have proven to exhibit antibacterial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties.
- The leaves are used in making skincare products for the treatment of acne, rashes, and hyperpigmentation.
- Rambai aids weight loss, muscular and bond health, pregnancy, and the immune system.
Where can you buy rambai?
Walmart Supercenter, Etsy, IndiaMart, and Amazon all sell Rambai.
5. RIVER PUTAT
The River Putat is scientifically known as Barringtonia conoidea. The herb originates from Madagascar, Polynesia, and northern Australia. It belongs to the Lecythidaceae family. It requires humid, well-drained, and fertile soil to grow well. This explains why it is usually found on coral sand flats, littoral sandy beaches, mangrove swamps, and river banks.
Uses of river putat
The wood from the river putat tree is used in building boats and canoes, flooring, and household utensils.
Health benefits of river putat
- The bark from the tree is used for treating external sores and tuberculosis.
- Leaves are used by the Australians as a great cure for chicken pox, chest pain, and fever.
- Traditionally, it is given to people suffering from rheumatism, backaches, swollen spleens, and diarrhea.
- Philippines heat and apply the leaves externally to relieve stomach ache.
6. RED MAHOGANY
This is a common name for several plant species, including the Khaya species and Eucalyptus resinifera. While Khaya is indigenous to Africa, Eucalyptus resinifera is indigenous to eastern Australia.
Uses of red mahogany
The entire piece of wood can be used to make furniture or boat structures. The bark of the mahogany tree has a bitter taste and often serves medicinal purposes, like the treatment of the common cold. The oil extract may also be used to tackle insecticides or lice under the hair.
Health benefits of red mahogany
- It is often believed in ancient medicine that the bark of the plant aids in boosting fertility.
- They may also help in the treatment of malaria and fever.
- An extract from the bark of mahogany may help control blood sugar levels.
- Red mahogany also helps with a healthy heart.
Where can you buy red mahogany?
They are available as herbs or extracts at Walmart Supercenter, Cherry Vale, on Etsy, etc.
7. RED TOP
Melinis repens is a grass species in the Poaceae family and is native to the southern part of Africa. Other common names are rose nata grass, natal red top, or just natal grass. It is an annual or perennial grass that may grow up to a meter tall.
Uses of red top
Currently, one of the major uses of this plant is for ornamental purposes or for claiming mined sites.
Health benefits of red top
- The nutritional benefits are not verified, but we believe them to be rather less palatable and more stemmy.
Spices that start with R (uses, health benefits, and where to buy them).
Looking for some spices that start with the letter R? Well, I’d say you have come to the right place. Let’s go through some of the likely spices that start with R, their various uses, health benefits, and even where you can buy these spices.
Some of them, including
- Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
- Rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus)
- Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus
- Rue ( Ruta graveolens)
- Red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus)
- Ras el Hanout
- Red mint (Mentha smithiana)
- Rugrusu (Ardisia pyramidalis)
1. RED CLOVER
Trifolium pratense, or what we know commonly as the red clover, is a flowering plant cultivar belonging to the Fabaceae family, the bean family. Flowers of this plant have a relatively dark pink color and a more pale base, exhibit a dense efflorescence, and are often attractive to bumblebees. The plant is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa and is now a well-known variety throughout southern America, where it often acts as a fodder crop for soil quality improvement.
Uses of red clover
This flowering part of the plant may be used for decorative functions in our meals, either as an extract or added as a consumable garnish. This flowering plant also possesses traditional medicinal purposes, like treatments for certain severe health conditions.
Health benefits of red clover
- This spice contains isoflavone, a type of phytoestrogen that may act as estrogen in the body.
- The spice is relatively rich in isoflavones, which are believed to help with the reduction of menopausal symptoms.
- Extracts from this flowering plant have been known to promote healthy hair and skin.
- Although limited, studies have shown that red clover may improve heart health in postmenopausal females.
- Other claimed benefits of this flowering plant are that it may help with weight loss, arthritis, whooping cough, etc.
Where can you buy red clover?
You can purchase this spice from the Clovers Natural Market, Walmart Supercenter, Basic Cooperative Natural Food, and from online stores like trueleafmarket.com, essexfoodingredient.com, and olamspices.com.
2. ROSEMARY
Salvia rosmarinus, or rosemary, is an evergreen shrub with a woody fragrance. Homed to the Mediterranean region, the plant is characterized by leaves with likeness to a needle, flower color ranging between white, pink, purple or blue. The plant belongs to the Lamiaceae family.
Uses of rosemary
One of the most common known uses for this plant is as a food seasoning, although the plant is also one of the most potent aromatic medicinal plants in the world. They may be used for making essential oils or for tea production.
Health benefits of rosemary
- In ancient Greece, it was believed that the herb Salvia rosmarinus helped with the proper functioning of the brain.
- An oil extract from this plant helps against certain hair loss conditions like patchy hair loss, male pattern baldness, etc.
- Still, their oil extract is thought by early studies to be a potential pain reliever and may be more effective than acetaminophen.
- S. rosmarinus tea products contain certain properties. They are high in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
- Also, the tea products may also help to reduce blood sugar levels as they are known to carry out insulin-like effects and also enhance the absorption of glucose into the muscle wall.
Where can you buy rosemary?
They are available on eBay, at Herb.co, on Amazon, at Walmart Supercenter, etc.
3. RED RASPBERRY
Rubus idaeus is a plant native to Europe and some parts of Asia. Originally, red raspberries were a red fruit tree species, different from other raspberry species. These perennials belong to the Rosaceae family. They bear biennial stems from a perennial root system.
Uses of the red raspberry
This plant has edible fruit. Their leaves may sometimes be added to our foods as flavoring, while others use the raspberry leaf for tea. The plant’s leaves contain several medicinal uses, as they have been taking it for the treatment of different health conditions.
Health benefits of red raspberry
- Rubus idaeus is a good source of antioxidants, containing tannins and flavonoids. These polyphenols serve as antioxidants in the body.
- Raspberry leaves provide the body with vitamins and minerals. They provide the body with vitamins B and C, minerals like potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and iron,
- Rubus leaf tea products tend to be generally beneficial for expectant mothers’ health.
- They are also beneficial to other women as they reduce premenstrual symptoms like cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
Where can you buy red raspberry?
You can purchase either the fruit or leaf tea products of the Rubus plant from Amazon, Herb.co, EatMatterz.com, MisfitMarket.com, etc.
4. RUE
The common rue is a cultivar of Ruta, belonging to the Rutaceae family. The plant is a yellow-flowered ornamental and has rather pungent-smelling leaves with blue-gray coloration. Although it repels cats and dogs, the plant tends to be very attractive to butterflies.
Uses of rue
Ruta graveolens has several well-known features, such as being repellent to harmful insects, drought-resistant, attracting useful insects, etc. Their leaves are also edible, though they may be bitter and a little bit toxic, so they should be used rarely. It is also used as a cooking ingredient. In North African cuisine.
Health benefits of rue.
- Common rue helps in the treatment of arthritis and joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
- They aid in the treatment of cramping during menstruation as they are antispasmodic.
- Rue also aids blood circulation by dilating the vessels and reducing strain on the cardiovascular system.
- The tea products are also useful for the treatment of anxiety, promoting restful, undisturbed sleep.
- Rue has been used as a remedy against poisoning, although it might be poisonous itself.
Where can you buy rue?
The rue plant or its tea product is available at the True Leaf Market, on herbs.com, landscapehub.com, Amazon, Etsy.com, etc.
5. RED YEAST RICE
Monascus purpureus is a mold cultivar belonging to the Monascaceae family. It has a purplish red color. Other names include ang-khak rice mold, corn silage mold, maize silage mold, and rice kernel discoloration.
Uses of red yeast rice.
M. purpureus has been used for several decades in fermented foods and is often used as a coloring agent for our foods. In the present day, red yeast rice is commonly sold as an over-the-counter supplement.
Health benefits of red yeast rice.
- They aid in the promotion of a healthy heart.
- Supplementing your meals with red yeast rice helps tackle inflammation.
- Research conducted on animals shows that feeding mice affected by prostate cancer with red yeast may reduce the tumor.
- This spice may also help in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
Where can you buy red yeast rice?
Basically, red yeast rice is available mostly online at stores like Amazon, Fresh Nutrition, ShopBest Naturals, etc.
6. RAS El HANOUT
This is not just one plant but a spice mix, which appears in different forms in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, etc. Ras El Hanout is an Arabic name meaning “head of the shop.” This simply means that it is a mixture of the best spices the seller has to offer.
Uses of ras el-hanout
The spice is often utilized in many savory dishes and may sometimes be rubbed on fish, meats, or even stirred into pasta, rice, etc. You can add it to couscous or yogurt, which can be used as a dip.
Health benefits of ras el-hanout
The Ras el Hanout is a complex aromatic spice blend, which means it takes advantage of the potential health benefits of the several spices involved in the mix.
- They contain essential oils beneficial for human health, such as piperine from black pepper, pinene from cardamon, oleic acid from coriander, etc.
- Coriander is present in the spice mix, which is a good source of vitamin C, a nutrient absent in most other spices.
- This spice mix also contains iron and calcium because of the presence of nutmeg and mace.
- The ras el hanout spice is also a good source of dietary fiber.
Where can you buy ras el hanout?
If you wish to try out this spice, pay a visit to Penzeys Spice Shop in Indianapolis, Kalustyans in New York City, or Savory Spice Shop in Denver, or you can order online from Amazon, Etsy.com, etc.
7. RED MINT
Mentha smithiana is a shrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family. They are rather attractive, spreading perennials characterized by oval, pointed, and toothed leaves and a kind of purplish red hue.
Uses of red mint
The leaves are edible and may serve as an herb as well as a spice. The leaves are often used for sauces and salads, and they are often utilized in the preparation of mint sauce for our dishes and lamb.
Health benefits of red mint
- Despite not being taken in rather larger quantities, they contain a relatively high level of different minerals and are a rich source of vitamin A.
- The ingestion of mint oil capsules aids in the improvement of irritable bowel syndrome.
- This spice also aids indigestion.
- A little research has proven that smelling the aroma of mint helps improve memory and alertness.
- Red mint may also aid in reducing pain during breastfeeding in women.
Where can you buy red mint?
These spices are readily available on Amazon, etc.
8. RUGRUSU
Ardisia pyramidalis is a small shrub native to the Philippines that thrives best in tropical climates. They are characterized by bright green, oblong leaves with a round, wild tip that narrows at the base. The edge of the leaf is smooth and sometimes slightly toothed.
Uses of rugrusu
This leaf produces edible fruits. Their flowers may also be added to a fish dish as a seasoning.
Health benefits of rugrusu
- Rugrusu are helpful in the treatment of cancer.
- Ardisia helps in the general improvement of blood circulation.
- Other potential benefits include alleviation of coughs, fevers, diarrhea, etc.
- They also contain polyphenols, triterpenoid saponins, isocoumarins, quinones, and alkylphenols, etc.
Where can you buy rugrusu?
Well, the best place to start your search is on Amazon, Etsy.com, or other online stores.
Well, we have come to the end of our list after so much stressful, time-consuming searching. This is all we could put together. You are free to do your own research and add to your own list.