Spicing Up the Story Behind Every Dish
In Black kitchens around the world, seasoning is more than a culinary step—it’s a sacred ritual. Whether it’s the sizzle of onions and garlic hitting a hot skillet in a Southern kitchen, the rich aroma of jerk spices marinating in a Caribbean pot, or the warmth of berbere simmering in an Ethiopian stew, seasoning is how we tell our stories, preserve our roots, and pass down generational wisdom.
For Black women especially, seasoning is ancestral. It’s the pinch our grandmothers added with love, the blend our aunties refused to reveal, and the rhythm we’ve perfected without measuring spoons. Here, flavor isn’t optional—it’s a necessity. Let’s take a journey into the seasoning secrets that live at the heart of Black cultures.
1. The Holy Trinity (and Its Many Cousins)
In Creole and Cajun cooking, the “holy trinity” of onion, bell pepper, and celery is the foundation of countless dishes—from gumbo to étouffée. It’s our answer to France’s mirepoix, infused with the spirit of Southern resistance and innovation. In other Black culinary traditions, that base may shift to include scallions, garlic, thyme, or ginger, depending on the roots of the cook.
Pro Tip: Start your meal by sweating your aromatics in oil or butter—this builds flavor from the ground up.
2. Herb & Spice Blends with Purpose
– West African Flavors:
Spices like suya (ground peanuts + chiles), grains of paradise, African nutmeg, and kpakpo shito (pepper blend) bring the heat and depth. They’re layered, earthy, and bold.
– Caribbean Influences:
In the Caribbean, you’ll often find pimento (allspice), thyme, scotch bonnet, green seasoning, and curry powder as base flavors. “Green seasoning” is a household staple—a fresh blend of herbs, garlic, scallions, and peppers blended into a paste used to marinate meats and infuse stews.
– African American Traditions:
In soul food traditions, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, bay leaf, and the occasional seasoning salt form the backbone. The real secret? It’s in the layering. No one-season-all here—it’s about patience and the perfect balance.
3. Marinades, Rubs & Rituals
Marinating isn’t just preparation—it’s transformation. Whether you’re slow-soaking oxtail in brown sugar and browning sauce or rubbing jerk seasoning into chicken overnight, flavor takes time. Black women know that well-seasoned food starts long before it hits the heat.
Try This: Create a signature marinade using oil, citrus juice or vinegar, herbs, and your favorite spice blend. Let your meats or veggies soak for hours—or overnight—for flavor that sinks into the soul.
4. Healing in the Spice
Beyond flavor, seasoning has always been medicine in Black kitchens. From the Caribbean to the Carolinas, spices like turmeric, clove, cayenne, thyme, and ginger weren’t just for taste—they were for healing. We’ve long known how to use food to build immunity, clear congestion, and calm the spirit.
Next time you sip that homemade ginger tea or make a stew with turmeric and garlic, remember: our ancestors were the original herbalists.
5. No Measurements, Just Vibes
Ask a Black woman how much seasoning to use and you’ll probably hear: “You just know.” That’s because our flavor instincts are honed through memory, muscle, and soul. We’ve watched, tasted, and practiced until we mastered the art of knowing when enough is just enough.
Seasoning tip: Taste as you go. Adjust. Trust yourself.
Flavor Is Our Love Language
For Black women, seasoning is more than salt and pepper—it’s storytelling. It’s how we hold on to culture in a world that tries to erase it. It’s how we nurture others when words fall short. And it’s how we declare, “I was here, and I made this with love.”
So the next time you stir your pot, remember: you are seasoning with centuries of resilience, rhythm, and royalty.
Pass the flavor, sis. Our culture is in the pot.
Written by Sandra Ellis
