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One of the hottest chillies on the market, the habanero is not for the faint-hearted! Add it sparingly to hot sauces, stews and curries. The delicious citrus-like flavour and floral aroma are quickly overpowered by its heat. This ground chilli is ready to use straight from the jar, ideal for quickly seasoning hot sauces, marinades and extreme spice blends without any prep.

Heat Level: 10/10

This warm, sweet, liquorice-tasting aromatic is native to the Middle East and was used by the ancient Romans to aid with digestion. Not to be confused with star anise (native to China), aniseed is often found in cakes and pastries, and is a great addition to curry powders. It is used to flavour alcoholic drinks such as Jägermeister and Sambuca. Also known as: Anise seed.

The signature spice of the famous chai tea, cardamom is sweet and aromatic with camphoric tones. This bright, complex flavour brings sophistication to cakes, biscuits, puddings and scrolls; curries and stews; rice dishes; stewed and preserved fruits; red meats; and milky beverages. These are the loose seeds removed from the pod, ready to add whole for a slow infusion or crush fresh for a more concentrated flavour.

With a staggering amount of heat, birdseye chilli is often used in condiments where heat, rather than flavour, is the main attraction. A very small and highly pungent chilli, it can be used whole, crushed or ground. These whole chillies can be used whole for a milder infused heat, or toasted and ground for maximum pungency.

Heat Level: 10/10

Affectionately named 'little raisin' due to its resemblance to both the colour and flavour of raisins, the pasilla chilli is one of the main ingredients in Mexican mole. With chocolate overtones and a delicious fruitiness, this chilli is a must try. These whole dried pods can be rehydrated whole for a rounder mole sauce, or can be toasted and ground fresh for a more vibrant powder.

Heat Level: 4/10

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. This ground chilli is ready to use straight from the jar, ideal for quick rubs, marinades and pastes.

Heat Level: 4/10

Used primarily as a natural red food colouring, annatto seed appears most commonly in South and Central American cookery, such as in achiote paste and adobo. Its soft lemon-peppery taste and mint tones complement seafood, meats, vegetables and rice.

Be careful when you stick your nose into a bag of galangal and inhale - it is surprisingly hot and will trigger your sinuses as though you are sick in bed with the cold. Similar in taste to ginger, with fruitier tones, galangal is used in many Asian cuisines to give more punch than ginger.

This wild and weedy perennial originated in Eastern Europe, where it still grows rampantly on road sides and in ditches. Similar to caraway, dill seed can be used in breads, biscuits, pickles and stews.

One of the hottest chillies on the market, the habanero is not for the faint-hearted! Add it sparingly to hot sauces, stews and curries. The delicious citrus-like flavour and floral aroma are quickly overpowered by its heat. These whole dried pods can be rehydrated and used whole or toasted and ground fresh for a more vibrant, aromatic powder.

Heat Level: 10/10

Also known as Chile Mosquito, this small yet hot Mexican varietal is a domesticated relative of the Tepin Chilli. We use this chilli in our English Pickling Spice, but it is also good for giving heat and flavour to vinegars, salsas and sauces. With a smoky, nutty and citrus-like taste, its neat, rounded shape is also pleasing to the eye.

Heat Level: 9/10

From the same family as dill, caraway and cumin, ajowan seed is widely used in Indian dishes, especially in the state of Gujarat. Its thyme-like aroma and taste matches well with vegetables, particularly in soups, stews and casseroles. Sprinkle it on bread before baking for a sharp and bitter, yet pleasant, cumin-like taste. Also known as: Ajwain, Bishop's weed, Carom

Affectionately named 'little raisin' due to its resemblance to both the colour and flavour of raisins, the pasilla chilli is one of the main ingredients in Mexican mole. With chocolate overtones and a delicious fruitiness, this chilli is a must try. In its ground form, it is ready to use straight from the jar, ideal for quick moles, braises and marinades.

Heat Level: 4/10