The Most Popular Spices in the World
LAST UPDATED: August 19, 2025
READ TIME: 11 minutes
Table of Contents
Popularity Contest
What makes a spice truly popular? Is black pepper really the "king of spices"? It may be the most historically significant, but what do the numbers tell us?
Spices have always shaped the course of civilization. They sparked exploration, built trade empires, and transformed cuisines. But today, popularity is best measured less by legend and more by data: how much the world produces, buys, and eats. So to properly host this popularity contest, we focus on the two metrics most indicative of global demand: annual production quantity and market size. In other words, how much is grown and used, and how much money the world spends on it.
This contest isn't totally fair. Some spices are much harder to grow, so they may have intense demand but not enough supply to hit this list (like these expensive spices, minus cardamom, which makes it onto both lists!). However, you can't be truly "popular" if you can't meet the demand.
These spices do both. They are deeply desired, and they are produced on a massive scale. They’re the seasonings that have broken free of borders, becoming cornerstones of local dishes as well as international supply chains. Have you ever wondered which spices top the charts in sheer global demand?
1. Chiles
- Annual Production: ~36 million metric tons
- Global Market Size (Dried Only): ~$9.2 billion
How Popular Are They?
Chile peppers are, without question, the world’s most popular spice by sheer volume. Over 36 million metric tons of chiles are produced annually (fresh + dried). Even if we narrow it down to dried chili peppers (the internationally traded form), global production is still about 4 million tons a year.
China is the giant, producing ~16 million tons annually, with Mexico, Turkey, and Indonesia trailing far behind. In India, chilis alone represent over $1.5 billion in export value (2023–24), the single largest spice export category. From paprika in Europe, to cayenne in the Americas, to bird’s eye chilis in Asia, this fiery fruit dominates both production and trade, confirming its central place in global food culture.
Why Are They So Popular?
Chilies are loved for their ability to transform food—adding heat, depth, and color. They provide the thrill of spice, the warmth in curries, the smokiness of paprika, and the bold kick in hot sauces. Beyond taste, capsaicin (the compound responsible for heat) also drives demand in health supplements, pain-relief creams, and even diet products. Culturally, chilies are embedded: Mexican salsas, Sichuan hotpot, Indian masalas, Korean kimchi; each cuisine uses chilies as a cornerstone. Their adaptability (mild to fiery, fresh to dried, ground to whole) and universality make them not just popular, but essential.
Learn more about chile peppers.
2. Garlic
- Annual Production: ~29 million metric tons
- Global Market Size (Dehydrated Only): ~$6 billion
How Popular Is It?
Garlic production is staggering: 29 million tons annually (projected to 36 million by 2026). China dominates with ~23 million tons (80% of global supply). In trade, China alone exports over 1.7 million tons of garlic each year, more than half of the world’s international supply. Garlic powder and granulated garlic are staples for the food industry, making garlic the second most produced and consumed spice ingredient on earth.
Why Is It So Popular?
Garlic’s pungent, savory bite is unmatched. It deepens flavors in virtually every cuisine—Italian pasta sauces, Indian dals, Chinese stir-fries, Middle Eastern dips, Latin American sofritos. It can be roasted sweet, sautéed sharp, or dried into powders. Beyond cooking, garlic’s reputation as a health booster (antibacterial, heart health, immunity) sustains its popularity. Few ingredients travel so seamlessly between rustic kitchens, gourmet restaurants, and dietary supplements.
Learn more about garlic.
3. Ginger
- Annual Production: ~4.8 million metric tons
- Global Market Size: ~$5.2 billion
How Popular Is It?
Global ginger production reached 4.8 million tons in 2022, with China and India producing the majority. It is both a local staple and a global export, with China, India, and Thailand supplying markets in the US, EU, and beyond. Its trade is steady and growing, driven by demand for both culinary and medicinal uses.
Why Is It So Popular?
Ginger is beloved for its warm, peppery spice with a citrusy lift. In Asia, it’s foundational: stir-fries, soups, curries, teas. In the West, it sweetens gingerbread, cakes, and cookies. Its dual identity—food and medicine—amplifies demand. Ginger tea, ginger shots, and ginger supplements are prized for anti-nausea and anti-inflammatory benefits. This makes ginger not just a flavor, but a lifestyle ingredient across continents.
Learn more about ginger.
4. Turmeric
- Annual Production: ~1.4 million metric tons
- Global Market Size: ~$4.4 billion
How Popular Is It?
Global turmeric production hovers around 1.4 million metric tons annually, with India contributing about 80% of the supply. Other producers—China, Myanmar, Nigeria, Bangladesh—make up the rest, but no one comes close to India’s dominance. The market was valued at $4.4 billion in 2023, with steady growth driven by international demand. The U.S. is the largest importer (nearly 10,000 tons in 2019), followed by Bangladesh, the UAE, and Iran. Beyond sheer volume, turmeric is among the fastest-growing spices in trade because it spans both culinary and health industries.
Why Is It So Popular?
Turmeric is beloved not only for its warm, earthy flavor and vibrant golden color, but also for its reputation as a superfood. The active compound curcumin is prized for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, fueling booming demand in supplements, teas, and wellness products (e.g., “golden milk” and turmeric shots). In cooking, turmeric is foundational in South Asian curries, but it’s also used globally in spice blends, mustards, and even baked goods. Its dual appeal—as both a kitchen staple and a health booster—explains why it has exploded in global popularity.
Learn more about turmeric.
5. Black Pepper
- Annual Production: ~855,000 metric tons
- Global Market Size: ~$4.7 billion
How Popular Is It?
Black pepper, often considered the undisputed "king of spices," appears to have been dethroned by the sheer scale and economic weight of chiles, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. Still, its global presence is formidable. About 855,000 metric tons of peppercorns are produced annually, with Vietnam controlling ~40% of supply. Nearly every cuisine uses pepper, making it one of the most universally demanded seasonings after salt. From households to restaurants, black pepper is indispensable and continues to drive enormous international trade value—the pepper market exceeds $4.7 billion, taking a nice chunk of the global spice market.
Why Is It So Popular?
Pepper’s power lies in its versatility and universality. Unlike chilies, which polarize with heat, pepper offers a gentle bite that enhances almost any savory dish. It bridges cultures: French sauces, Indian curries, American steaks, Chinese stir-fries, Middle Eastern spice blends—all rely on pepper. Indeed, there are few dining tables without a pepper mill or shaker.
Learn more about black pepper.
6. Coriander
- Annual Production: ~1.4 million metric tons
- Global Market Size: $1.1 billion
How Popular Is It?
Coriander seed production reaches about 1.4 million tons globally each year, with India again as the largest producer. India alone is projected to produce nearly 882,000 tons in 2025–26, reflecting surging demand. Other big contributors include Mexico, Morocco, Russia, Canada, and Ukraine. In trade, India exports over 45,000 tons annually, largely to Asia and the Middle East. While coriander is less pricey than luxury spices, its bulk volume makes it an economic powerhouse in the spice world, valued at $1.1 billion.
Why Is It So Popular?
Coriander seeds bring a citrusy, slightly sweet flavor that makes them indispensable in spice blends like garam masala, curry powders, and pickling spices. They’re also crucial in European sausages, Middle Eastern stews, Mexican salsas, and even brewing (Belgian witbier, anyone?). Unlike more niche spices, coriander works both in savory and sweet profiles, which makes it universally adaptable. This versatility, combined with huge agricultural output, cements coriander’s global popularity.
Learn more about coriander.
7. Cumin
- Annual Production: ~475,000 metric tons/year
- Global Market Size: $700 million
How Popular Is It?
Global cumin production is estimated at about 475,000 tons annually, with India producing the lion’s share (over 400,000 tons). Other producers, like Syria, Turkey, Iran, and China, contribute far smaller amounts. In export terms, cumin ranks as India’s second-highest spice export earner, generating about $700 million in 2023–24. Major importers include Bangladesh, the U.S., UK, and UAE, ensuring cumin circulates widely through global food supply chains.
Why Is It So Popular?
Cumin’s warm, nutty, slightly smoky flavor makes it a foundation spice in countless global cuisines. It’s essential in Indian masalas, Mexican chili powder, Middle Eastern blends, and Latin American tacos. Because it is one of the core “base spices” in seasoning mixes worldwide (e.g., garam masala, curry powder, ras el hanout, chili blends, taco seasoning), demand is extremely high. Its versatility across meat, vegetables, stews, breads, and even drinks (like jeera water in India) ensures cumin’s enduring global love.
Learn more about cumin.
8. Cassia Cinnamon
- Annual Production: ~222,000 metric tons
- Global Market Size: ~$1.25 billion
How Popular Is It?
Global cinnamon production is around 222,000 tons annually, dominated by Indonesia, China, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka (98% of supply). Indonesia leads with about 90,000 tons per year, mostly cassia cinnamon, while Sri Lanka produces smaller amounts of the high-value Ceylon species (~16–21k tons). Cinnamon is highly trade-focused: nearly 198,000 tons entered global commerce in 2020, worth over $1–1.5 billion annually. The U.S. and India are the top importers.
Why Is It So Popular?
Cinnamon is cherished for its sweet, warm aroma that works equally well in savory curries and sweet desserts. In the West, it flavors baked goods, coffees, and festive dishes; in Asia and the Middle East, it’s found in curries, biryanis, and spice blends. Its appeal extends beyond food—it’s used in teas, perfumes, and traditional medicines.
Learn more about cassia.
9. Cloves
- ~190,000 metric tons/year
- ~$500 million global market size
How Popular Are They?
Global clove production is around 180,000–200,000 tons per year, with Indonesia producing about 70–75% of the supply (~120–145k tons). Madagascar, Tanzania, Comoros, Sri Lanka, and Kenya are also important players. Much of Indonesia’s crop is used domestically (notably in kretek clove cigarettes), but cloves are widely traded to South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. The global market value is estimated at around $500 million.
Why Are They So Popular?
Cloves pack an intense, warming, and almost medicinal flavor that makes them indispensable in holiday baking, mulled wine, pickling, pilafs, and spice blends (like garam masala). Their strong aroma means a little goes a long way, but they’re also tied deeply to cultural rituals and festive cooking across continents. From studding hams in the West to spicing chai in India, cloves have a luxurious and celebratory reputation that keeps them in demand.
Learn more about cloves.
10. Cardamom
- ~139,000 metric tons/year
- ~$800 million global market size
How Popular Is It?
Cardamom is produced in smaller quantities (about 139,000 tons in 2024) but carries an outsized reputation. Guatemala and India are the top producers, with Guatemala largely growing for export. Despite low volume, cardamom is one of the highest-value spices in the world, with exports exceeding $1 billion in peak years. Despite coming in last in the popularity contest, it is the only spice on this list that is also on the most expensive list. Middle Eastern markets drive much of the trade, while India both produces and imports cardamom to meet its massive domestic demand.
Why Is It So Popular?
Cardamom’s intensely aromatic, sweet-spicy flavor makes it beloved across cultures. In the Middle East, it’s essential in Arabic coffee and desserts; in South Asia, it stars in curries, biryanis, and masala chai; in Scandinavia, it flavors pastries and breads. Its wide culinary range—from savory to sweet; curries to Christmas baking—gives it a global prestige. Combined with its rarity and labor-intensive cultivation, cardamom enjoys the title of the “Queen of Spices” and remains one of the most cherished flavors worldwide.
Learn more about cardamom.
Crowd Favorites
These spices are global icons. They’ve truly stood the test of time, but their popularity is no accident. Each one delivers something indispensable, whether it’s heat, aroma, depth, or versatility.
While rare and exotic spices may come and go, these crowd favorites remain the backbone of the world’s kitchens. They connect farmers to factories, street vendors to Michelin-starred chefs, and home cooks everywhere who reach for them without a second thought.