One of the characteristics of Italian dishes whether served at an italian restaurant san francisco or at an Italian home is that they are filled with fresh herbs and spices. These ingredients are carefully hand-picked to make sure they are at their ripest. Aside from making the dishes flavorful, these spices and herbs also have medicinal properties. Here are some of the most common ones.

1. Basil

An excellent Italian restaurant San Francisco always has pesto, and basil is the main ingredient. Basil is loved for its strong anise-like flavor.

2. Mint

Mint is sometimes a substitute for basil. Aside from being great in meals, mint is also known to have medicinal properties to cure indigestion, cramps, and nausea.

3. Oregano

This is used mainly with tomatoes, and is prized for its distinct strong flavor and aroma.

4. Parsley

Parsley is perhaps the most widely used herb / spice in Italian cooking.

5. Others

Aside from the staples such as black peper, here are other spices and herbs used in Italian cooking: sage, thyme, and marjoram.