USDA food category

Spices and Herbs

According to USDA FoodData Central (data refreshed September 2026), spices and herbs entries carry the FDA-required nutrition facts panel, ingredient list, and allergen disclosure verbatim from the source label.

50
Foods shown
254
Avg kcal / 100gmoderate density
10.6g
Avg proteinhigh · 21% DV

Showing 1–50 foods

Dual-rank verdict

Spices and Herbs ranks 9th of 25 USDA food groups on average calorie density (254 kcal/100g) but 12th of 25 on average protein (10.6g/100g), group-level USDA averages rather than any single food.

62
foods in avg / 100g profile
254
avg calories / 100g
10.6g
avg protein / 100g
#9 / 25
by calorie density

SPICES_AND_HERBS · USDA FDC · September 2026

Spices and Herbs group desk

CAL-MID 254 kcal/100g PRO-LOW 10.6g/100g DENS-UPPER #9/25 dense PRO-RANK-MID #12/25 protein COUNT-THIN 66 PHOTO-FINISH Fast Foods · ±1 kcal BOOK-FDC 66 idx · September 2026

66 index-core foods average 254 kcal and 10.6g protein per 100g · #9/25 by calorie density · #12/25 by protein. Read with nearest density peer: Fast Foods (-1 kcal/100g).

Calorie-density neighbourhood around Spices and Herbs

Vegetables and · lightest avg63 kcalRestaurant Foods · near221 kcalFast Foods · near253 kcalSpices and · this group254 kcalSausages and · near256 kcalFats and · densest avg609 kcal
Neighbourhood around Spices and Herbs's 254 kcal/100g group average, not a full 25-group distribution reprint.

Most calorie-dense spices and herbs

Calories per 100 g across the foods on this page

  1. 1 Spices, nutmeg 525 kcal
  2. 2 Spices, poppy seed 525 kcal
  3. 3 Spices, mustard seed 508 kcal
  4. 4 Spices, mace 475 kcal
  5. 5 Spices, celery seed 392 kcal
  6. 6 Spices, cumin seed 375 kcal
  7. 7 Spices, fennel seed 345 kcal
  8. 8 Spices, onion powder 341 kcal
  9. 9 Spices, anise seed 337 kcal
  10. 10 Seasoning mix, dry 335 kcal
  11. 11 Spices, ginger 335 kcal
  12. 12 Spices, caraway seed 333 kcal
kcal / 100g Source: USDA FoodData Central (page 1)

Where spices and herbs sit on protein

This group averages 10.6g of protein per 100g, placed against every USDA reference (whole) food.

Protein per 100g - Spices and Herbs average vs every USDA reference food

USDA reference (whole) foods with a protein value

11 Top 48% higher than 52% of 7,880 USDA reference foods

0–5: 2,829 USDA reference foods (36%). Below this entry. 5–10: 1,170 USDA reference foods (15%). Below this entry. 10–15: 863 USDA reference foods (11%). This entry sits in this band. 15–20: 783 USDA reference foods (10%). Above this entry. 20–25: 1,085 USDA reference foods (14%). Above this entry. 25–30: 826 USDA reference foods (10%). Above this entry. 30–35: 230 USDA reference foods (3%). Above this entry. 35–40: 32 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 40–45: 9 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 45–50: 11 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 50–55: 9 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. 55–60: 33 USDA reference foods (0%). Above this entry. This group's avg 0 60 every USDA reference food, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more USDA reference foods. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy & Foundation · 2026

Where Spices and Herbs sits among the 25 USDA food groups

Plotted by average calories and average protein per 100g, group-level averages across every USDA food category (not individual foods).

06.412.819.225.635.7185.8336.0486.1636.3Avg protein / 100gAvg calories / 100gPoint 1: Avg protein / 100g 13.9, Avg calories / 100g 218Point 2: Avg protein / 100g 4.2, Avg calories / 100g 154Point 3: Avg protein / 100g 0.8, Avg calories / 100g 609Point 4: Avg protein / 100g 23.3, Avg calories / 100g 197Point 5: Avg protein / 100g 3.4, Avg calories / 100g 104Point 6: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 256Point 7: Avg protein / 100g 8.2, Avg calories / 100g 328Point 8: Avg protein / 100g 0.9, Avg calories / 100g 87Point 9: Avg protein / 100g 22.2, Avg calories / 100g 211Point 10: Avg protein / 100g 2.8, Avg calories / 100g 63Point 11: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 498Point 12: Avg protein / 100g 24.4, Avg calories / 100g 211Point 13: Avg protein / 100g 3.5, Avg calories / 100g 111Point 14: Avg protein / 100g 20.3, Avg calories / 100g 134Point 15: Avg protein / 100g 14.1, Avg calories / 100g 205Point 16: Avg protein / 100g 23.1, Avg calories / 100g 216Point 17: Avg protein / 100g 7, Avg calories / 100g 360Point 18: Avg protein / 100g 5, Avg calories / 100g 330Point 19: Avg protein / 100g 8.9, Avg calories / 100g 288Point 20: Avg protein / 100g 12.4, Avg calories / 100g 253Point 21: Avg protein / 100g 8, Avg calories / 100g 211Point 22: Avg protein / 100g 9.8, Avg calories / 100g 444Point 23: Avg protein / 100g 16.5, Avg calories / 100g 209Point 24: Avg protein / 100g 10.1, Avg calories / 100g 221Spices and Herbs: Avg protein / 100g 10.6, Avg calories / 100g 254High-cal, low-proteinHigh-cal, high-proteinLow-cal, low-proteinLow-cal, high-protein
Spices and Herbs: 10.6g avg protein, 254 avg kcal per 100g, among 25 USDA food groups
Read the chart as text
  • Point 1: Avg protein / 100g 13.9, Avg calories / 100g 218
  • Point 2: Avg protein / 100g 4.2, Avg calories / 100g 154
  • Point 3: Avg protein / 100g 0.8, Avg calories / 100g 609
  • Point 4: Avg protein / 100g 23.3, Avg calories / 100g 197
  • Point 5: Avg protein / 100g 3.4, Avg calories / 100g 104
  • Point 6: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 256
  • Point 7: Avg protein / 100g 8.2, Avg calories / 100g 328
  • Point 8: Avg protein / 100g 0.9, Avg calories / 100g 87
  • Point 9: Avg protein / 100g 22.2, Avg calories / 100g 211
  • Point 10: Avg protein / 100g 2.8, Avg calories / 100g 63
  • Point 11: Avg protein / 100g 15.3, Avg calories / 100g 498
  • Point 12: Avg protein / 100g 24.4, Avg calories / 100g 211
  • Point 13: Avg protein / 100g 3.5, Avg calories / 100g 111
  • Point 14: Avg protein / 100g 20.3, Avg calories / 100g 134
  • Point 15: Avg protein / 100g 14.1, Avg calories / 100g 205
  • Point 16: Avg protein / 100g 23.1, Avg calories / 100g 216
  • Point 17: Avg protein / 100g 7, Avg calories / 100g 360
  • Point 18: Avg protein / 100g 5, Avg calories / 100g 330
  • Point 19: Avg protein / 100g 8.9, Avg calories / 100g 288
  • Point 20: Avg protein / 100g 12.4, Avg calories / 100g 253
  • Point 21: Avg protein / 100g 8, Avg calories / 100g 211
  • Point 22: Avg protein / 100g 9.8, Avg calories / 100g 444
  • Point 23: Avg protein / 100g 16.5, Avg calories / 100g 209
  • Point 24: Avg protein / 100g 10.1, Avg calories / 100g 221
  • Spices and Herbs: Avg protein / 100g 10.6, Avg calories / 100g 254
Name Calories Protein Fat Carbs

→ Compare the first three spices and herbs foods side-by-side

Basil, fresh

Whole Food
23 cal
P: 3.1gF: 0.6gC: 2.6g

Capers, canned

Whole Food
23 cal
P: 2.4gF: 0.9gC: 4.9g

Dill weed, fresh

Whole Food
43 cal
P: 3.5gF: 1.1gC: 7.0g

Horseradish, prepared

Whole Food
48 cal
P: 1.2gF: 0.7gC: 11.3g

Mustard, prepared, yellow

Whole Food
60 cal
P: 3.7gF: 3.3gC: 5.8g

Mustard, prepared, yellow

Whole Food
61 cal
P: 4.3gF: 3.4gC: 5.3g

Peppermint, fresh

Whole Food
70 cal
P: 3.8gF: 0.9gC: 14.9g

Rosemary, fresh

Whole Food
131 cal
P: 3.3gF: 5.9gC: 20.7g

Salt, table

Whole Food
Calories: not available

No macro data

Salt, table, iodized

Whole Food
Calories: not available

No macro data

Salt, table, iodized

Whole Food
Calories: not available

No macro data

Seasoning mix, dry, chili, original

Whole Food
335 cal
P: 10.8gF: 7.3gC: 56.6g

Seasoning mix, dry, sazon, coriander & annatto

Whole Food
Calories: not available

No macro data

Seasoning mix, dry, taco, original

Whole Food
322 cal
P: 4.5gF: 0.0gC: 58.0g

Spearmint, dried

Whole Food
285 cal
P: 19.9gF: 6.0gC: 52.0g

Spearmint, fresh

Whole Food
44 cal
P: 3.3gF: 0.7gC: 8.4g

Spices, allspice, ground

Whole Food
263 cal
P: 6.1gF: 8.7gC: 72.1g

Spices, anise seed

Whole Food
337 cal
P: 17.6gF: 15.9gC: 50.0g

Spices, basil, dried

Whole Food
233 cal
P: 23.0gF: 4.1gC: 47.8g

Spices, bay leaf

Whole Food
313 cal
P: 7.6gF: 8.4gC: 75.0g

Spices, caraway seed

Whole Food
333 cal
P: 19.8gF: 14.6gC: 49.9g

Spices, cardamom

Whole Food
311 cal
P: 10.8gF: 6.7gC: 68.5g

Spices, celery seed

Whole Food
392 cal
P: 18.1gF: 25.3gC: 41.4g

Spices, chervil, dried

Whole Food
237 cal
P: 23.2gF: 3.9gC: 49.1g

Spices, chili powder

Whole Food
282 cal
P: 13.5gF: 14.3gC: 49.7g

Spices, cinnamon, ground

Whole Food
247 cal
P: 4.0gF: 1.2gC: 80.6g

Spices, cloves, ground

Whole Food
274 cal
P: 6.0gF: 13.0gC: 65.5g

Spices, coriander leaf, dried

Whole Food
279 cal
P: 21.9gF: 4.8gC: 52.1g

Spices, coriander seed

Whole Food
298 cal
P: 12.4gF: 17.8gC: 55.0g

Spices, cumin seed

Whole Food
375 cal
P: 17.8gF: 22.3gC: 44.2g

Spices, curry powder

Whole Food
325 cal
P: 14.3gF: 14.0gC: 55.8g

Spices, dill seed

Whole Food
305 cal
P: 16.0gF: 14.5gC: 55.2g

Spices, dill weed, dried

Whole Food
253 cal
P: 20.0gF: 4.4gC: 55.8g

Spices, fennel seed

Whole Food
345 cal
P: 15.8gF: 14.9gC: 52.3g

Spices, fenugreek seed

Whole Food
323 cal
P: 23.0gF: 6.4gC: 58.4g

Spices, garlic powder

Whole Food
331 cal
P: 16.6gF: 0.7gC: 72.7g

Spices, ginger, ground

Whole Food
335 cal
P: 9.0gF: 4.2gC: 71.6g

Spices, mace, ground

Whole Food
475 cal
P: 6.7gF: 32.4gC: 50.5g

Spices, marjoram, dried

Whole Food
271 cal
P: 12.7gF: 7.0gC: 60.6g

Spices, mustard seed, ground

Whole Food
508 cal
P: 26.1gF: 36.2gC: 28.1g

Spices, nutmeg, ground

Whole Food
525 cal
P: 5.8gF: 36.3gC: 49.3g

Spices, onion powder

Whole Food
341 cal
P: 10.4gF: 1.0gC: 79.1g

Spices, oregano, dried

Whole Food
265 cal
P: 9.0gF: 4.3gC: 68.9g

Spices, paprika

Whole Food
282 cal
P: 14.1gF: 12.9gC: 54.0g

Spices, parsley, dried

Whole Food
292 cal
P: 26.6gF: 5.5gC: 50.6g

Spices, pepper, black

Whole Food
251 cal
P: 10.4gF: 3.3gC: 64.0g

Spices, pepper, red or cayenne

Whole Food
318 cal
P: 12.0gF: 17.3gC: 56.6g

Spices, pepper, white

Whole Food
296 cal
P: 10.4gF: 2.1gC: 68.6g

Spices, poppy seed

Whole Food
525 cal
P: 18.0gF: 41.6gC: 28.1g

Spices, poultry seasoning

Whole Food
307 cal
P: 9.6gF: 7.5gC: 65.6g
Page 1 Next →

Primary source data

USDA FoodData Central → FDA Food Labeling & Nutrition → Dietary Guidelines for Americans →

Source: USDA FoodData Central — food_categories taxonomy.
Source: Per-food nutrient values from USDA laboratory analysis and manufacturer-submitted label data.

Read our methodology for how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Key takeaways

  • Within Spices and Herbs, Spices is the most calorie-dense item on this page at 525 cal per 100g, while Basil is the lightest at 23 cal -- a reminder that "category" alone doesn't tell you much about any single food.
  • By average calorie density, spices and herbs ranks 9th of 25 USDA food groups -- see how it compares to every other group. Browse all categories
  • Sort the table above by protein, fat, or carbs to find the specific foods in this category that best match your own targets.