Spice Substitution Chart: Historical and Modern Swaps for Home Cooks
Update (August 19, 2025): This page has been expanded with added historical context, clarified notes, and improved search.
Missing mace in your recipe? Can’t find grains of paradise?
Whether you’re preparing a medieval feast or just need a quick fix, this searchable spice substitution chart has you covered. We include practical replacements and historically inspired swaps for cooks, reenactors, and food-history fans alike. From cinnamon and clove to rarities like grains of paradise or long pepper, these tested substitutions help you adapt without losing the dish’s character.
Historical Spice Substitutions
In medieval and Renaissance cookery, substitutions were essential: spices were seasonal, expensive, and often unavailable. Manuscripts like Forme of Cury and Libro de arte coquinaria specify blends, but household cooks adjusted based on access. This list balances modern flavor compatibility with known historical usage, keeping the spirit of the original.
How to use these substitutions: Start small and adjust to taste—pungent spices (clove, cardamom) can dominate. Working from a period recipe? Consider the spice’s humoral qualities or symbolic role; substitutions may shift intent slightly.
Check our conversion guide: Spice Measurement FAQ – Ounces to Tablespoons.
