What's the difference between herbs and spices?
by 
Melanie Whitney
ANSWERS: 6
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The terms "spice" and "herb" have both been used to describe parts of plants (possibly dried) that are used to enhance the flavor or taste of food. In addition, herbs have been used to augment cosmetics, preserve foods and cure illnesses. Spices and herbs can consist of flower buds, bark, seeds, leaves or many other parts of a plant. Over time the definitions for spices and herbs have changed a bit. In the past, spices have been categorized as fragrant, aromatic plant products like cinnamon, cloves, ginger and pepper. These spices are found in plants grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. While herbs have always been recognized as the more green, leafy products like mint, rosemary and thyme grown in more temperate areas. But according to the American Spice Trade Association, today spices have become known as "any dried plant product used primarily for seasoning purposes." This all-inclusive definition seems to cover a wide range of plants like herbs, spice seeds and even dehydrated vegetables and spice blends. Answer as found on infoplease.com
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Typically, Herbs are leaves, spices are roots and bark. This is why cilantro is considered and herb, and coriander the spice. They both come from the same plant, but the cilantro is leaves and coriander is seeds.
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Just to confirm what Jennifer said. This was my understanding, too. Also, the flower portions of a plant, when used for seasoning (saffron, for example) are herbs. The seeds, like mustard seeds, are spices. So the soft parts of the plant are herbs, the hard parts are spices. Just a pedantic differentiation, it makes no difference in how you use them.
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Herbs are the leaves and/or stems of the plant. Spices are the ground or whole seeds.
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hey mon ya smoke de herbs
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My definition is that herbs are the plants themselves and spices are derivatives.
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