Oh, the spice rack. To have the word "spice" in the title, yours is probably very dull. The contents may read something like this: Pepper ... check. Salt ... check. Lawry's Seasoned Salt ... double check.

So, to give your dinnertime food a break from the usual, we've dug up a few little-known herbs and spices that you're guaranteed to love.

Spice: Turmeric

Continent of origin: Asia

Flavor: Warm, rich, musky. Often used to flavor curry powders.

Try it today: Serve up a pot of Ethiopian Gomen Wat (an African take on cooked collard greens). Here's the recipe.

Where to buy: Specialty herb and/or health food stores, online retailers like spicesinc.com.

Spice: Sumac

Continent of origin: Asia

Flavor: Fruity, tart.

Try it today: Add a little to your favorite Middle Eastern dips, like hummus. Try out this recipe.

Where to buy: Middle Eastern markets or in bulk at amazon.com.

Spice: Fennel

Continent of origin: Europe

Flavor: Earthy, slightly bitter.

Try it today: Because the plant is native to the Mediterranean region, it goes great with Italian recipes. This recipe for Fennel-Rubbed Tenderloin is a classic.

Where to buy: Grocery markets, herb or health food stores.

Spice: Merken

Continent of origin: South America

Flavor: Smokey, spicy. 

Try it today: Since it's sort of like the MVP of exotic spices, sprinkle it on just about anything for an extra kick. Check out this Merken Shrimp recipe.

Where to buy: Online at places like Zingerman's Mail Order.

Spice: Schizandra

Continent of origin: Asia

Flavor: Sour, sweet, salty, spicy and bitter. Called the "five-flavor" berry, it's not technically a spice, rather a fruit used as a spice.

Try it today: The jury's out on how to really use this fruit. Some say to add it to fish dishes (though we couldn't find any specific recipes) while others advocate using it to flavor a white tea. We'll leave that decision up to you!

Where to buy: Buy the powder at specialty herb stores, or online at moutainroseherbs.com.

-- Whitney Teal

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