National Herbs & Spices Day 🌿🌶 10th June

Simon O'Donovan
Jun 10, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Sep 11, 2023

"Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour. ..."

Here is a quick cognitive stimulation picture and music quiz for 'National Herbs & Spices Day' which is on 10th June.

Begin the session by asking members who likes hot or spicy food?

Who prefers mild and bland food?

Which national food do members prefer - Indian, Chinese, Italian etc?

What are members favourite restaurants and dishes?

IDIOMS

Ask members to complete the following phrases, by way of a shout out ...

Salt of the EARTH

Grasp the NETTLE

In mint CONDITION

Sitting on the dock of the BAY

Rocket MAN

Spice things UP

Curry FAVOUR

Take something with a pinch of SALT

As keen as MUSTARD

Lashings of ginger BEER

Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BAND

In a PICKLE

Rub salt in the WOUND

Leaves a sour taste in your MOUTH

Flavour of the MONTH

A taste of PARADISE

All done in the best possible TASTE

The sweet taste of SUCCESS

Taste of your own MEDICINE

Time is of the ESSENCE

Variety is the spice of LIFE

And say these well known sayings together

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled PEPPER

What are little boys made of?

Snips and SNAILS

And puppy-dogs’ TAILS

That’s what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and SPICE

And all things NICE

That’s what little girls are made of.

SONG BREAK

https://youtu.be/MA5kJAVFg2o

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

Before the quiz starts, picks some herbs and put them in different paper bags or kitchen towels. Scrunch them up and then pass them around and ask members to comment on fragrance, uses and which are liked best.

Bring in some spice jars and do the same.

Take care members don't ingest the items, in case of allergies etc.

MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ

Ask members to look at the following pictures and identify the herbs and spices. Then answer the questions.

You can print these off for a paper based quiz, or if you click on the first photo a slide show will be opened.

Before playing the song, ask members to remember the four herbs mentioned in the opening line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4e-FV4P1aU (Lyric video)

ROUND 1. Herbs

	M _ _ _ & What meat is this herb (sauce) served with?
	L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What therapeutic value does this herb have?
	B _ _ _ _ &. What nationality uses this herb frequently in its food?
	R _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & Shakespeare said this herb was for ... what?
	F _ _ _ _ _ & What flavour is this herb?
	C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What do Americans call this herb?
	B _ _ L _ _ _ & What tree do these leaves come from?
	O _ _ _ _ _ _ & What flat bread based dish is this often sprinkled on?
	D _ _ _ & What pickled dish is this herb used for?
	C _ _ _ _ _ & What cold dish is this herb often sprinkled over?

AD BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdWWaS0PYA

Before playing it, what was the advertising slogan?

SONG BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow25lvYoKXo

Which folk tale character is this song associated with?

ROUND 2. Spices

	C _ _ _ _ _ & One of the hottest peppers is called what (think hat)?
	G _ _ _ _ _ & Which horror character is this spice said to repel?
	C _ _ _ _ _ & What pain is this spice said to help ease?
	G _ _ _ _ _ & Which children's books is associated with a drink made out of this spice?
	C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & Which holiday is this spice associated with?
	V _ _ _ _ _ _ & Which type of flower does this spice come from?
	S _ _ _ _ _ _ & True or False. This spice is more valuable (by weight) than gold? & Which flower does it come from?
	C _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ _ _ & What country uses this spice in most of its savoury foods?
	N _ _ _ _ _ & What is the outer layer called (it is a separate spice)?
	H _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What meat dish is a sauce made from this spice served with?

AD BREAK. What men's fragrance is being advertised here? & What was the advertising slogan?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rbZr7YoqK0

SONG BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtXl8xAPAtA

Which actress can be seen on the bottom right of this picture?

ROUND 3. Condiments

	M _ _ _ _ _ _ & What is this spread made from?
	E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ M _ _ _ _ _ _ & Which animal appears on the label?
	H _ _ _ _ _ O _ P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ / What does the 'HP' stand for?
	W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ /. Which county is this sauce associated with?
	B _ _ _ _ P _ _ _ _ _ & How do you usually put this on your food?
	T _ _ _ _ _ K _ _ _ _ _ _ & What number is written on all their products (think varieties)?
	M _ _ _ V _ _ _ _ _ _ & Which grain is this product made from?
	T _ _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ & Which country is this hot sauce associated with?
	S _ _ S _ _ _ & What percentage of this substance is in seawater (nearest guess)?
	G _ _ _ _ & What would you most commonly use to thicken this condiment?

AD BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-WJHUO6ag

Name the actress?

SONG BREAK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wfpXI5PKlw

Name the girls - character names and real names?

ROUND 4. Other Stuff

	C _ _ _ _ _ & What effect does this herb have?
	C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What drink might you make from this flower?
	N _ _ _ _ _ & What leaf would you rub on a sting?
	D _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What is a flower head gone to seed called?
	M _ _ _ _ _ _ & C _ _ _ _ & Where did we probably first learn to grow these seeds?
	W _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & In days gone by, how did we usually eat this herb?
	A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What would you usually use this candied herb for?
	C _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & What rice dish is this spice usually used in?
	M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ & Which Jamaican pop star was buried with some of this 'herb'?
	R _ _ _ W _ _ _ _ & What sweet's main ingredient is this substance?