[Jimbee (OP)]

I could be wrong. But it seems that there are a lot of spices that are like cinnamon. Allspice is. So are cloves. Ginger perhaps. Nutmeg, I don't know. So maybe less so the last two. And even more exotic spices like cardamom and coriander spice.

Is there a name for the group of spices that are listed above? I know I learnt in HS, some dishes are sweet and some are savory. I.e., sweet and just salty or plain. Is that it? Or is the spices I listed above unique in some other way? (The above spices always seem to be put together I've noticed. Like gingerbread and spice cake.)

[paul cotter]

Cinnamon is largely cinnamaldehyde while clove is largely eugenol and both of these are fragrant volatile substances. Ginger contains zingiberone which is not that volatile but has a pungent taste. Allspice, I don't know what is in it. Cardamom has a complex mix of terpene derivatives. Plants used as spices have a vast range of odoriferous substances, largely terpene and allyl benzene derivatives, and some of these may appear similar to some people. For example the constituents of cardamom and eucalyptus are quite similar and may be experienced as tasting the same but I find them to be different. It is all very subjective.