Herbal - basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme.

Hot - chili peppers, cilantro, cumin, garlic, onion.

Pungent - celery, chili peppers, cumin, curry, ginger, peppercorns.

Spicy - cinnamon, ginger, pepper, star anise.

Sweet - allspice, anise, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg.

An easy and tasty method for testing herb and spice combinations is to mix several blends into small portions of cream cheese or other mild cheeses. After allowing them to sit for at least one hour, sample your combinations noting which flavors you like and which ones are overpowering. Be sure to label the samples so that you will know how to duplicate or modify each seasoning to your taste.