Ochre Spice

Ochre

Ochre is a family of natural clay earth pigments, made up of ferric oxide and varying amounts of clay and sand, ranging in colour from yellow to deep orange or brown. The term is also used for the colours produced by this pigment, especially a light brownish-yellow. A variant of ochre containing a large amount of hematite, or dehydrated iron oxide, has a reddish tint known as red ochre. The term "ochre" is colloquially used to cover a range of different substances used for their colours in Aboriginal Australian art and ceremonial decoration, for instance the clay known as "white ochre" or "pipe clay" is derived from kaolin or gypsum.

Spice

In the culinary arts, a spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavouring or colouring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavouring or as a garnish. Spices and herbs are both seasonings. Spices are sometimes used in medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, or perfume production. They are usually classified into spices, spice seeds, and herbal categories. For example, vanilla is commonly used as an ingredient in fragrance manufacturing. Plant-based sweeteners such as sugar are not considered spices.

ochre

Noun

1. A clay earth pigment containing silica, aluminum and ferric oxide.
2. A somewhat dark yellowish orange colour.

Adjective

1. Having a yellow-orange colour.
2. Referring to cultures that covered their dead with ochre.

spice

Noun

1. Aromatic or pungent plant matter (usually dried) used to season or flavor food.
2. The quality of being spicy.

Verb

1. To add spice or spices to; season.
2. To spice up.