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With less heat than your average chilli, you can safely take a good whiff of the ancho chilli. The complexity of its aroma is tantalising - sweet yet smoky, with notes of caramel and molasses. Add to chilli con carne or meat dishes such as spaghetti bolognese where a balance of sweetness and heat is required. These whole dried pods need rehydrating in warm water before blending into sauces, or can be toasted and ground fresh for a more vibrant, aromatic powder, ideal for traditional mole sauces.

Heat Level: 3/10

This chilli's deep red flesh has a green-tea flavour with berry overtones. Used in salsa for tamales, the guajillo chilli is also great in pastes, butter and meat rubs - try it with chicken. These whole dried pods rehydrate in warm water for a rounder, more complex sauce, or can be toasted and ground fresh for a punchier powder.

Heat Level: 4/10

Nigella or kalonji is the botanical name of the plant evocatively known as 'love-in-a-mist'. These small black seeds do not have a strong aroma; the taste is nutty, earthy and slightly bitter, with a crunchy texture. In India, whole seeds are dry roasted or fried and spread over vegetarian dishes and salads.

The strands of dried decorative chillies you may see in shops or kitchens are often of the arbol variety. These long, curved chillies mature from green to fiery red, uniquely retaining their bright scarlet upon drying. With intense heat and a subtle smoky flavour, these chillies are popular in western Mexican and Tex Mex cooking. Fry or soak before use for a deeper intensity.

Heat Level: 8-9/10

Juniper berry is in fact not a true berry but a cone. Its outer layers do not contain much flavour, so grinding or crushing maximises the release of its fresh green citrus flavours. Juniper imparts a sharp taste to meat dishes, especially wild birds and game meats.

This smoke-dried jalapeño chilli, native to Mexico, is famously used in the dish adobo. Its earthy smokiness yet floral sweet tones will make you reconsider the general perception of chillies as being nothing more than burning hot. Add this to anything you like chilli in - one of our favourites, it's sure to become yours too. These whole dried pods rehydrate for a smoky, complex sauce, or can be toasted and ground fresh for a more vibrant powder.

Heat Level: 6/10

With less heat than your average chilli, you can safely take a good whiff of the ancho chilli. The complexity of its aroma is tantalising - sweet yet smoky, with notes of caramel and molasses. Add to chilli con carne or meat dishes such as spaghetti bolognese where a balance of sweetness and heat is required. This ground chilli is ready to use straight from the jar, ideal for quickly seasoning chilli con carne, rubs and marinades without any prep.

Heat Level: 3/10

Fenugreek seeds are used widely in Middle Eastern and South Asian cookery. In India and Pakistan, the seeds are added to vegetables and rice; in Turkey, to hot pastes; in Egypt, they are boiled for a sweetened tea. The sweet aroma of fenugreek seeds is similar to maple syrup, while their flavour is savoury and nutty.

Mace blade is the lacy dried covering that is derived from the nutmeg seed. The mace is peeled off and dried, revealing a yellowish-reddish colour. Mace features prominently in Asian, Caribbean, Indian and Moroccan cuisines.

Rose petal powder is used extensively in Middle Eastern cuisine, particularly Persian and Turkish flavours. Used for its floral aroma, symbolism and decorativeness, rose petal powder was made popular in Australia by chef Yotam Ottolenghi with his beautiful rose harissa.

Mixed with salt, celery seed famously enhances the flavour of Bloody Mary cocktails. The brown crescent-shaped seeds are often included in pickling mixes, dressings, soups, breads, and a wide assortment of other foods. It is often used whole, releasing its intensely savoury and earthy, bitter flavours when bitten into.

With a plethora of imaginative names in different languages, the Italian - and most common - name, porcini, means 'piglets' in English. When dried, the flavour of these much relished mushrooms intensifies to a meaty, creamy and nutty palate; the aroma is reminiscent of sourdough. These whole dried slices rehydrate in warm water, releasing a rich mushroom stock alongside the tender pieces.

Amchur is made from dried green mango and used predominantly as a souring agent in Indian cookery. It often replaces lemon juice in curries, vegetable dishes and marinades. As it pairs well with black pepper, amchur can be used on your favourite barbecue meats, tenderising the cut before cooking as well as adding flavour and aroma. Also known as: Green mango powder, Amchoor

Similar in taste and look to dried cranberries, barberries are tarter and less sweet. The berries are used widely in Middle Eastern cooking, and traditionally also made into juice and fruit rolls.

With a staggering amount of heat, birdseye chilli is often used in condiments where heat, rather than flavour, is the main attraction. In ground form, this chilli disperses instantly and evenly through pastes, marinades and sauces without any prep.

Heat Level: 10/10

With delicious aromas of chocolate and cherry, these brownish-black, mild to medium chillies are traditionally used in Mexican moles, as well as other sauces and stews.

Heat Level: 3/10