Is hawayej for coffee the same as hawayej for soup?

No. חוויאג׳ לקפה contains aromatic spices such as ginger and cinnamon, while documented חוויאג׳ למרק formulas feature cumin and turmeric. Always check for לקפה or למרק.

Does sweet paprika contain sugar?

Sweet in פפריקה מתוקה describes the mild pepper style. The ingredient list can show pure paprika, paprika with salt, or paprika with oil.

Is hot paprika the same as chili powder?

No. פפריקה חריפה is hot paprika. US chili powder and UK chilli seasonings can contain cumin, oregano, garlic and salt.

Does ground sumac contain salt?

Some ground סוּמַק products contain salt. Read the ingredient list before adding the recipe's full amount of salt.

Is a kosher spice automatically kosher for Passover?

No. Ordinary kosher status and Passover status are separate checks. Look for the product's current Passover marking and certification, especially on blends, paprika with oil and bulk spices.

Israeli Spice Guide: Hebrew Labels in English

Spice Blends

A bowl of baharat, an Israeli spice blend

On the label or sign

בהרט: Baharat
בהרט לקובה: Baharat for kubbeh
בהרט עיראקי: Iraqi baharat

בהרטBaharat

baharat

US English

Baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend

UK English

Baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend

What it is

בהרט is a family of warm, aromatic blends. Israeli formulas can include different combinations of cinnamon, rose, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom and other spices.

The difference

Baharat has no single universal recipe. Regional and use labels identify different styles, and some products contain salt.

Common mistake

Do not treat every baharat as seven spice, allspice or ras el hanout; buy the named regional style or compare ingredients.

On the label or sign

ראס אל חנות: Ras el hanout

ראס אל חנותRas el hanout

ras el hanout

US English

Moroccan or North African spice blend

UK English

Moroccan or North African spice blend

What it is

ראס אל חנות is a variable spice blend usually sold as Moroccan in Israel. Current formulas can contain many spices, and some products contain salt.

The difference

Ras el hanout and baharat can share ingredients, but the blend families have different regional identities and formulas.

Common mistake

Do not treat ראס אל חנות as a fancier name for baharat; follow the recipe name and compare ingredients.

A bowl of hawaij for soup, hawaij le-marak

On the label or sign

חוויאג׳ למרק: Hawayej for soup
חוויג׳ למרק: Common package spelling for hawayej for soup

חוויאג׳ למרקHawayej for soup

khawayej lemarak

US English

Yemeni soup spice blend; no exact US equivalent

UK English

Yemeni soup spice blend; no exact UK equivalent

What it is

חוויאג׳ למרק is a savory Yemeni style blend. Documented formulas feature cumin and turmeric, while the other spices vary.

The difference

Soup hawayej is seasoning, not necessarily bouillon or stock powder. Some versions contain salt, and formulas can also include onion, garlic or herbs.

Common mistake

Check for למרק and read the ingredients instead of buying coffee hawayej or replacing stock measure for measure.

A bowl of hawaij for coffee, hawaij la-kafe

On the label or sign

חוויאג׳ לקפה: Hawayej for coffee
חוויג׳ לקפה: Common package spelling for hawayej for coffee

חוויאג׳ לקפהHawayej for coffee

khawayej lekafe

US English

Yemeni coffee spice blend; no exact US equivalent

UK English

Yemeni coffee spice blend; no exact UK equivalent

What it is

חוויאג׳ לקפה is an aromatic blend for coffee and other sweet or milky drinks. Current documented formulas contain ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom.

The difference

Coffee hawayej contains spices intended to season coffee. Coffee itself is not an ingredient, and the blend ratio can vary.

Common mistake

Check for לקפה instead of buying soup hawayej or assuming the word חוויאג׳ identifies the intended use.

A bowl of za'atar blend, with olive oil for dipping

On the label or sign

זעתר: Za'atar
זעתר בלאדי: Baladi za'atar blend

זעתרZa'atar

za'atar

US English

Za'atar blend or herb, depending on the product

UK English

Za'atar blend or herb, depending on the product

What it is

זעתר on an Israeli spice shelf often means a blend rather than one dried herb. Current blends can include sesame, za'atar, chickpea, coriander, salt, oil and citric acid.

The difference

Za'atar formulas differ materially. The ingredient list shows whether the package contains a blend and identifies sesame or other added ingredients.

Common mistake

Do not buy a za'atar blend when a recipe asks for the herb alone; check the ingredients and sesame allergen statement.

Tart And Hot Spices

On the label or sign

סומק: Sumac, usually printed without vowel marks
סומאק: Alternate spelling of sumac
סומק טחון: Ground sumac

סוּמַקSumac

sumac

US English

Sumac

UK English

Sumac

What it is

סוּמַק is a tart red or burgundy spice made from dried Rhus coriaria fruit. Ground retail products may contain salt.

The difference

Packages usually print סומק without vowel marks, and סומאק also appears. סֹמֶק, pronounced somek, means blush or blushing.

Common mistake

Read the ingredients before adding a recipe's full amount of salt because ground sumac may already contain salt.

On the label or sign

שאטה: Shatta
טחון: Ground
גרוס: Crushed

פלפל שאטהShatta pepper

pilpel shatta

US English

Hot red chile or crushed red pepper

UK English

Hot chilli or crushed chilli

What it is

פלפל שאטה is a hot Capsicum annuum product sold whole, ground or crushed. Shatta also supplies heat in some hot paprika formulas.

The difference

Shatta, hot paprika, cayenne and US chili powder are different products. Grind, heat and added ingredients can differ, and crushed shatta may contain salt.

Common mistake

Match the recipe's form and read the ingredients instead of treating every red hot pepper product as interchangeable.

Paprika Labels

On the label or sign

פפריקה מתוקה: Sweet or mild paprika
פפריקה הונגרית מתוקה: Hungarian sweet paprika
רכיבים: Ingredients

פפריקה מתוקהSweet paprika

paprika metuka

US English

Sweet paprika or mild paprika

UK English

Sweet paprika or mild paprika

What it is

פפריקה מתוקה is paprika made from dried red Capsicum annuum fruit in a mild style. Sweet describes the mild pepper style and does not mean added sugar.

The difference

The front label does not guarantee pure paprika. Current products can contain only paprika, paprika with salt, or paprika with oil.

Common mistake

Do not assume sweet paprika is sugared, smoked or always pure; read רכיבים for the ingredients.

On the label or sign

פפריקה חריפה: Hot paprika
פפריקה הונגרית חריפה: Hungarian hot paprika

פפריקה חריפהHot paprika

paprika harifa

US English

Hot paprika; cayenne is only an approximate substitute

UK English

Hot paprika; hot chilli powder may differ

What it is

פפריקה חריפה is paprika intended to give red color and heat. Current products can contain pure hot paprika, hot red peppers with salt, or paprika with shatta and oil.

The difference

Hot paprika is not US chili powder or a guaranteed match for UK chilli seasoning. Those seasonings can include cumin, oregano, garlic and salt.

Common mistake

Do not assume חריפה gives a fixed heat level or a pure product; check for salt, oil, shatta and soy.

Moroccan paprika in oil, paprika be-shemen

On the label or sign

פפריקה בשמן: Paprika with oil
פפריקה מרוקאית מתוקה בשמן: Sweet Moroccan paprika with oil
פפריקה מרוקאית חריפה בשמן: Hot Moroccan paprika with oil

פפריקה בשמןPaprika with oil

paprika beshemen

US English

Moroccan style paprika blended with oil

UK English

Moroccan style paprika blended with oil

What it is

פפריקה בשמן is a dry paprika seasoning blended with oil. Sweet and hot Moroccan versions are sold, and hot formulas can also contain shatta.

The difference

Paprika with oil is not ordinary dry paprika and is not a jarred pepper paste. The ingredient list identifies the oil and any salt or shatta.

Common mistake

Do not mistake paprika with oil for plain paprika, harissa, matbucha or another wet pepper paste.

On the label or sign

פפריקה מעושנת: Smoked paprika

פפריקה מעושנתSmoked paprika

paprika me'ushenet

US English

Smoked paprika

UK English

Smoked paprika

What it is

פפריקה מעושנת is paprika with smoke flavor. One current formula contains sweet paprika, smoke extract and table salt.

The difference

The word smoked does not prove that the peppers were traditionally smoke dried. Smoked paprika is not necessarily Spanish pimentón, pure paprika or hot.

Common mistake

Read the ingredients for smoke extract and salt instead of assuming the package contains pure or hot smoked paprika.

Names That Mislead

On the label or sign

פלפל אנגלי: Allspice

פלפל אנגליAllspice

pilpel angli

US English

Allspice

UK English

Allspice

What it is

פלפל אנגלי is allspice, the dried unripe fruit of Pimenta dioica. Allspice is one berry, not a spice mixture.

The difference

The Hebrew name literally means English pepper, but the product is not black pepper from England.

Common mistake

Buy allspice berries or ground allspice instead of black pepper or a premixed collection of spices.

On the label or sign

מלח לימון: Citric acid

מלח לימוןLemon salt

melah limon

US English

Citric acid

UK English

Citric acid

What it is

מלח לימון is food grade citric acid, E330. The white crystals or powder supply acidity.

The difference

Lemon salt is not salt flavored with lemon, lemon zest or fresh lemon juice. Lemon salt does not provide fresh lemon aroma or ordinary saltiness.

Common mistake

Do not salt food with מלח לימון or replace lemon juice one for one; use citric acid only when the recipe calls for citric acid.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.
Recipe says	Buy in Israel	Keep in mind
Baharat	בהרטbaharat	Match the regional style and compare ingredients.
Ras el hanout	ראס אל חנותras el hanout	A variable Moroccan or North African blend.
Yemeni soup spice blend	חוויאג׳ למרקkhawayej lemarak	The word למרק identifies the soup blend.
Yemeni coffee spice blend	חוויאג׳ לקפהkhawayej lekafe	The word לקפה identifies the coffee blend.
Sumac	סומק or סומאקsumac	Check whether the ground spice contains salt.
Za'atar blend	זעתרza'atar	Check whether the recipe wants a blend or the herb.
Sweet paprika	פפריקה מתוקהpaprika metuka	Sweet means mild, not sugared.
Hot paprika	פפריקה חריפהpaprika harifa	Hot paprika is not US chili powder.
Smoked paprika	פפריקה מעושנתpaprika me'ushenet	Check for smoke extract and salt.
Shatta or hot red chile	פלפל שאטהpilpel shatta	Choose whole, ground or crushed as required.
Allspice	פלפל אנגליpilpel angli	Allspice is one berry, not a blend.
Citric acid	מלח לימוןmelah limon	Lemon salt supplies acidity, not saltiness.

Your recipe says this. Look for this Hebrew label.

Recipe says

Buy in Israel

Keep in mind

Baharat

בהרטbaharat

Match the regional style and compare ingredients.

Ras el hanout

ראס אל חנותras el hanout

A variable Moroccan or North African blend.

Yemeni soup spice blend

חוויאג׳ למרקkhawayej lemarak

The word למרק identifies the soup blend.

Yemeni coffee spice blend

חוויאג׳ לקפהkhawayej lekafe

The word לקפה identifies the coffee blend.

Sumac

סומק or סומאקsumac

Check whether the ground spice contains salt.

Za'atar blend

זעתרza'atar

Check whether the recipe wants a blend or the herb.

Sweet paprika

פפריקה מתוקהpaprika metuka

Sweet means mild, not sugared.

Hot paprika

פפריקה חריפהpaprika harifa

Hot paprika is not US chili powder.

Smoked paprika

פפריקה מעושנתpaprika me'ushenet

Check for smoke extract and salt.

Shatta or hot red chile

פלפל שאטהpilpel shatta

Choose whole, ground or crushed as required.

Allspice

פלפל אנגליpilpel angli

Allspice is one berry, not a blend.

Citric acid

מלח לימוןmelah limon

Lemon salt supplies acidity, not saltiness.

Mix-Ups to Avoid

Spice Blends

בהרטBaharat

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

ראס אל חנותRas el hanout

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חוויאג׳ למרקHawayej for soup

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

חוויאג׳ לקפהHawayej for coffee

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

זעתרZa'atar

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Tart And Hot Spices

סוּמַקSumac

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פלפל שאטהShatta pepper

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Paprika Labels

פפריקה מתוקהSweet paprika

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פפריקה חריפהHot paprika

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פפריקה בשמןPaprika with oil

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

פפריקה מעושנתSmoked paprika

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Names That Mislead

פלפל אנגליAllspice

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

מלח לימוןLemon salt

What it is

The difference

Common mistake

Your Recipe Says This. Look for This Hebrew Label.

Knowing the word is half of it. Say it out loud.

How we checked this guide

Frequently Asked Questions

More Hebrew-English Guides

Israeli Vegetables Guide

Israeli Fruit Guide

Israeli Greens Guide

Israeli Rice and Grains Guide