MR.HERBS “HERBALIST, SPICES AND PERFUMES IN SHARM”

Mr. Herbs is the famous Herbalist of Sharm El Sheikh, located just beside the main parking area  in Old Market, in front of the Al Sahaba mosque. Mr. Herbs became well known thanks to its wide range of products including spices, medical herbs, oils and perfume essences. The staff inside the shop is very professional, properly trained, multilingual and specialized in the history behind all kinds of spices and natural remedies. The owner, Mr. Hamada, created this place exactly with the aim of representing a reference point for all the tourists wishing to discover and purchase the great benefits of natural spices and herbs. There are three distinct areas in the shop used as a showroom and information desk, explaining everything about the products and their history. As a matter of fact the knowledge we have of spices goes well back in time, when it was discovered that some plants had some really intense elements inside able to give different kinds of benefits and therefore suitable for various needs, from adding a special flavor to some food recipes to the field of beauty for face and body care. Spices have become indispensable ingredients to be added to special ointments and many types of cosmetics, but they became important even as part of medical prescriptions.

Nowadays spices are mainly used to flavor dishes, adding a special pinch of aroma and taste and they have been recognized as foods rich in minerals and vitamins. Aromatic herbs and spices are obtained from different parts of the plant, for example in the kitchen we use the leaves of basil, sage, bay leaf and rosemary to give flavor to food and seasoning. In some cases fresh leaves are used, like when it comes to basil for instance, but most of the times spices are used dried. Spices can be found on the market either as powder, paste or as whole original format (Mr. Herbs here in Sharm features the best transportable packaging you can find).

Whole spices are preferable to others if you want them to preserve their aroma and taste for a long time. On the other hand, those in powder tend to lose their properties more quickly but are at the same time more convenient to use. The most important thing when purchasing spices in powder is to make sure there are no lumps, otherwise it means that they are not fresh. Spices in paste are a good way to keep the aroma longer in comparison to powdered ones but their life on the shelf is rather short still because they are easily perishable. Those who want to keep them for a long time must necessarily pay particular attention to the method and place of storage, as an unsuitable place would quickly make them lose their aromatic properties. The first rule to take into consideration is not to keep the spices inside open jars or plastic bags but in ceramic or glass jars instead, that you can easily find in any supermarket or household store, unless you already have a suitable container  for them. This way you can be sure you will preserve both freshness and color for longer. Some spices, such as ginger and coriander, release all their properties when they are fried with a few drops of oil before being placed on the plate to be flavored. Other ones, such as cinnamon are added as a whole piece (in this particular case the cinnamon stick is blended into the recipe) to give flavor to food and sauces, because they are not that easy to grind.

MOST COMMON SPICES IN THE KITCHEN:

CINNAMON

One of the most requested, well known and still widely used exotic spices all over the world is definitively cinnamon. It is mainly used in the preparation of sweets, jams and preserves, biscuits and cooked fruit. As to its properties, cinnamon can stimulate the respiratory and circulatory functions as well as boosting the immune system.

CLOVES

Cloves are used in the kitchen to flavor food and dishes such as stuffed meat, vegetables, cooked fruit, soups, some kind of fish, Christmas desserts, typically very spicy. Given the strong aroma of this spice, a moderate use is recommended, as its flavor could even cover the one of the main ingredient in your recipe. As to other properties, cloves seem to have the power to fight mental fatigue, as well as being a good digestive and tonic in general.

SAFFRON

One of the most important and famous spices is saffron, a herbaceous plant with purple flowers and characteristic yellow stigmas. In our kitchen it is mainly used to make the "Risotto alla Milanese" and pasta with broccoli.

PEPPER

Along with saffron, this is one of the most exotic spices we use in our daily cooking. Its use goes from fish soups to roasts, from meat fillings to sauces. Read our detailed pepper guide.

NUTMEG

Another really fragrant spice of unmistakable flavor is nutmeg. From the seeds of this plant a powder is obtained, which is used for omelettes, recipes based on mushrooms, asparagus, fish soups and white sauces such as béchamel.

GINGER

Here is another spice with a fresh and intense flavor. In addition to flavoring food and various dishes, ginger features different healing properties, first of which related to digestion and boosting your energy level. In our kitchen it is used for rice salads, vegetables, meat, soups and brine.

CORIANDER

Coriander is a kind of herb looking at first glance just like parsley, but with a much more intense flavor, which is used for fish-based dishes, salads, soups, tomatoes, vegetables, chicken, rice and vinaigrette for seasoning.

TURMERIC

The best spice to flavor exotic dishes as well as others from the Mediterranean cuisine, such as risotto and omelettes. Among other properties, turmeric is a good tonic for the liver and helps to purify the blood.

CUMIN

Cumin comes from the East, a spice with a very strong aroma comparable to the one of pepper. It is used for meat with an intense flavor such as lamb, vegetables and in some desserts. It is also an amazing natural help for digestion.

JUNIPER

Juniper is widely used in soups, stews and game-based dishes, usually in the form of a berry. It is not recommended though to those who are suffering from digestive problems.

CHILLI PEPPER

Chilli is one of the most appreciated and widely used spices in the world, a fundamental part of all typical southern cuisines, like the Apulian and Calabrian ones. As to other properties, it promotes blood circulation and helps to regulate the intestine and is often used to spice up meat, soups and sauces. It is also well added to numerous fish-based dishes.

SPICES FOR AROMATHERAPY:

41–SANDALWOOD: Sandalwood tree oil is effective for muscular and rheumatic pains, cervical arthritis, stiff neck. For massage: 6 drops of eucalyptus and 9 drops of sandalwood.

42–MUSK: Helps to relieve headaches and it is used as a luxury fragrance. We suggest to put 2/3 drops between the hands and rub it on your forehead.

43–ROYAL AMBER: Oil with calming properties, ideal for the nervous system, stress, anxiety, mood, helps sleeping, cough, ideal for newborn babies and for snoring problems.

44–EUCALYPTUS: If you have high fever, just use a little bit on your body, go to bed and cover up well. The smell of Eucalyptus is excellent for respiratory problems and it purifies the lungs.

45–MINT: Antiseptic properties, ideal for sore throat, dry and oily cough, asthma, cold, sinusitis, headache and migraine. It is enough to put a small piece of mint in a glass of boiling water.

46–LAVENDER: It helps fighting stress, mood changes and for the environment. Put 2/3 drops in your hands and breathe slowly.

47–BLACK CUMIN: Ideal for stomach pain, antioxidant, it fights gastritis, stomach acidity, heartburn, reflux. It helps the liver and boosts the entire immune system. Just take 2/3 tsp before meals on empty stomach.

48–CRESS: Ideal for hair loss. Take 15/20 drops and massage hair and scalp with your fingers, then leave it for one hour. If you repeat this daily, it is excellent against dandruff.

49–LETTUCE: Good to regulate cholesterol. Put 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of warm water and take it on empty stomach for 3 weeks.

50–CLOVES: Helpful for toothache. Place 5 drops on a cotton bud and apply on your teeth. These drops are also good to stop having cold feet.

51–ALMOND: Useful as anti-wrinkle remedy, dark spots and when mixed in a base cream, 2/3 drops, it becomes very good for your face.

52–ALOE VERA: For all skin diseases such as acne, enzyme etc. Working also against psoriasis.

53–THE SECRET OF MR. HERBS: This is given by 3 oils mixed together (Almond, Aloe Vera, Argan butter). To be used as moisturizer for acne, enzyme, spots, dermatitis, psoriasis, blackheads, fungi. Effective against wrinkles.

After listing and explaining in detail all the most important spices and oils of Mr. Herbs shop, you just have to come and visit personally the attractive showroom, where our helpful staff will welcome you kindly, while offering an excellent and delicious cup of karkadè. We remind you that inside the shop you will find the best perfume essences, thanks to which we can prepare for you fantastic perfumes, either oriental ones or belonging to the most well known international fragrances. In addition you will get magnificent decorated glass containers and packaging, which are also nice, once empty, to be kept as souvenirs.

There is nothing left to be mentioned, we just wait to meet you at Mr. Herbs!

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