CA1088806A - Spice mixture - Google Patents

Abstract

SPICE MIXTURE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This invention provides a seasoning composition applicable to a wide variety of foods, for example, all types of meats and seafood. The composition comprises a major proportion by weight of salt, and minor proportions by weight of each of the following ingredients: anise, nutmeg, onions, paprika, white pepper, sugar, chili, garlic, oregano, marjoram and cloves; all ingredients being in finely powdered or ground form. This composition is easy to prepare and use, and is stable indefinitely if kept in a closed container.

Description

This invention relates yenerally to the ~lavouring and seasoning of foods, and more particularly relates to a composition which i8 useful for seasoning a wide variety of foods.
The object of this invention is to provide to the average housewife, the amateur barbecuer and professional cook, a distinct flavour seasoning which is not only easily applied ~ ;
to a large variety of foods, but also time-saving in the preparation of such foods and always consistent in taste, when applied to the food to be prepared at the basic rate of ~-~

2% of the weight of meats or 1% of the weight of seafoods.
These amounts may be increased or decreased slightly accord-ing to the taste of the individual user. In other words, it is a foolproof method of seasoning to give the foods here-with prepared an always pleasant and smooth taste. This ;~
seasoning, if stored dry, will not deteriorate~even at ;~
extreme temperatures. ~ ~ ;
Numerous seasonings prepared from mixtures of spices and herbs are known. Otentimes these seasonings are specially prepared for a particular food item such as steak~
seafood or poultry. Examples of spice mixtures which are ~ .
known and have been used are those described in Stukes' U S.
Patent 877,806, issued January 28, 1908; U.S. Patent 1,940,624 o~ Edward E. Feight, issued December 19, 1933; U.S. Patent ;~
2,543,250 of Walter A. Miller, issued February 27, 1951; and ;
U.S. Patent 3,756,833 of Louis A. Powell, issued September 4, 1973.
Spice and herb mixtures known in the art are useful for seasoning a variety of foods, but in some cases these ;~
mixtures require careful preparation and/or are troublesome or ~", time-consuming to prepare. Also, some of the known spice and herb flavouring mixtures are effective for only a limi~ed variety o~ foods~
By the present invention, there is provided a seasoning composition which is easy to prepare and is effective in seasoning a wide variety of foods.
The invention resides, broadly, in a seasoning composition comprising a major proportion by weight of salt, and minor proportions by weight of each of the following ingredients: anise, cloves, nutmeg, onions, paprika, garlic, chili, oregano, marjoram, sugar and white pepper. ; ~`
More specifically, the present invention provides a food seasoning composition consisting essentiaLly of the ~ollowing ingredients, by weight~

Salt 81.8~ - 85.2%
Sugar 4.4~ - 6.8%
PapriXa 2~4% - 2.8%
l~hite Pepper 2.1% - 2.3%
Onion Powder 1.2% - 1.5%
- 20 Garlic Powder 1.28% - 1.33 Chili Powder 0.85% - 0.89 Nutmeg (ground) 1.0% - 1.2%
Oregano 0.39% - 0.48~
Mar;oram 0.43g - 0.44%
Anise Powder 0.43% - 0.44%
Cloves (powdered3 0.09% - 0.13%
, . . . .
the proportions of ingredients within the above-stated ranges ~
. ~,, ; ~, ~ . , being so chosen that their sum totals 100% of said composition.
.. . .
A preferred co~nposition according to my invention consists essentially of the following ingredients, by weight: ~
Salt 83.9~ i -Sugar 5.25% `
Paprika 2.6%
White Pepper 2.2% `
Nutmeg 1.1%
Onions 1.3%
Garlic 1.3 Chili 0.88%
Anise O 44%
Oregano 0.44%
Marjoram 0.44% , Cloves 0.1 '; ' '~

:

The above-described seasoning composition can be used with a wide variety of foods, in particular with meat dishes such as roast beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, liver, meat loaf, hamburger, pork chops and steaks, and also with all types of seafood. In addition, the spice mixture can be used with salads, eggs and a wide range of vegetables.
It is not necessary that the ingredients be added in any particular order in making up my flavouring composition.
The various ingredients to be used should, however, be in a finely powdered or ground form. care must be taken to ensure that the proper proportions of the ingredients, within the range given above~ are maintained and that the ingredients are thoroughly mixed. This invention is an entirely organic ~ -product; however, if preferred, it may be used in conjunction with a flavour-enhancing subs~ance such as monosodium gluta-mate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, or mixtures thereof.
In flavouring specific foods, the spice mixture of this invention can be used in various ways, as will be readily apparent to anyone skilled in the art. For instance, it can be sprinkled upon or slightly rubbed into any roasts before they are put in the oven. Similarly, the spice can be ~;;
sprinkled upon liver, seafoods, chops, steaks and game~ The spice mixture has a tenderizing effect and if it is sprink~ed upon roasts, chops, steaks and game, for example, some hours before being roasted or cooked, the marinating effect of the spiceserves to tenderize the mea somewhat. It is mixed with meat loa~ and hamburger when the mixture is being prepared, in the proportion of two teaspoons to each pound of ground ;~
0 meat. It may also be mixed according to taste with tne

- 3 -breading or batter recipe for fried chicken or fish to yielda result comparable to the commercial product while leaving the meat more appetizing and moist. For salads, it is mixed with the oil and vinegar to make the dressing, although to suit different preferences, it may be sprinkLed on he salad after adding the oil and vinegar.
The secondary effects of the use of this spice mixture on meat incLude prevention to a large extent of reezer burn and freezer taste if applied before freezing, and an improved gravy after cooking. Alsot the sealing action of some of the spices allows a 25-30% saving in weight in meats seasoned with this spice mixture compared to meats cooked without seasoning.
Each spice in this mixture, when used in combination with the others, serves a specific purpose. Salt is a common seasoning used in all savory foods, and when applied with sugar, pepper, onion and garlic powders, has a tenderizing ~
effect on meats by breaking down connective tissues. White `
pepper, another common spice, is employed rather than black ~ ;~
pepper, since it has a better appearance, especially when this mixture has been added to light-coloured soups, salads and gravies. In addition, it works to greater effect within this particular mixture since it has a smoother, less harsh ~;
taste than black pepper. Sugar is added to the mixture to enhance the natural sweetness of vegetables and salad greens while producing, in combination with the other ingredients of the mixture, a most delicate savory taste in meat dishes.
The onion and garlic powders, when employed in unison, com-plement each other. Each lends a delicate, spicy taste to 0 any food. In addition, garlic gives a fuller, richer taste

- 4 -to dishesJ whereas onion aids ln dicJestion once the food isconsumed~ The composition includes paprika, sinc~ it enhances the natural colour of meat to prod~ce a ~resher~
more appetizing look, while its mildness and distinctive flavour make it a perfect complement for such vegetables as peas, beans and corn. Chili, added as a flavour complement to paprika, is especially effective with seafoods and reduces the wild or "gamey" flavour sometimes found in lamb, mutton and game. Oregano and marjoram provide a note of mild and sharp herbal flavours. These h~rbs, ubiquitous in Latin, Creole and French cuisine, enhance the "green" flavour o~ ~ -lettuce and other vegetables, while working in unison with the salt, pepper and sugar, to seal meat juices in while ~
cooking. Nutrneg and cloves, included especially for poultry ~ ;
and egg dishes, lend a delicate spicy taste, smoothing the flavour of the rest of the combination. Finally, anise is included in exceedingly small amounts to give foods a delicate piquancy. In addition, anise has the property of beiny able to stimulate saliva secretion, which aids in the distribution oE the taste of the food about the mouth.
This mixture may be stored indefinitely without losing either taste or colour, without the aid of preservatives, as long as the container is tightly sealed. It is formulated for both institutional and household use and speeds meal preparation by eliminating guesswork on the part of the chef.
This spice mixture has a fairly large margin of error of application, and is therefore easy to handle for inexperienced cooks.
A specific formulation of the seasoning composition is as follows:

Anise 1/2 oz.
Cloves 1/8 oz.
Nutmeg 1 1~4 oz.
Onion 1 1/2 oz. ' Spanish Paprika 3 oz.
Garlic 1 1/2 02.
Chili 1 oz.
Oregano 1/2 02.
Marjoram 1/2 oz.
Sugar 6 oz.
White Pepper 2 1/2 oz.
Salt 6 lb.
The proportions of some of ~he ingredients rnay be varied to a limited extent. Other ingredients, however, ;
may not be varied as to proportion used. selow ls shown ~ :
in tabular form the ingredients ~centre column) of a practical formulation according to the preCient invention, with the ideal ~ `
amount of each given ingredient being listed in the left-hand ?~
column, and the amount by which each item may be increased (+) 20 or decreased (-j in the right-hand column. .
Possible : ~:
Ideal Quantity Ingredient Variation :~
1/2 oz. Anise Powder nil : :.
1/8 oz. Cloves (powdered) nil -1 1/4 oz. Nutmeg (sround) 1/8 oz. (+) 1 1/2 oz. Onion Powder 1/4 oz. (~) or 1~8 oz. (~
3 oz. Paprika 1/4 oz. (+) ~ ~:
~ 1 1/2 oz. Garlic Powder nil 1 02. Chili Powder nil 1/2 oz. Oregano 1/16 oz. (+~
1/2 oz. Marjoram nil 6 oz. Sugar 1/2:oz~ ~+) or o z 2 1/2 oz. White Pepper 1/4 oz. (~) or !~'` ' 1/8 oz. (~
6 lb. Salt nil .~

~,", ~,;

. ~ :, . .
:,'" '''"''~

~., .

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A food seasoning composition consisting essentially of the following ingredients, by weight:

Salt 81.8% - 85.2%
Sugar 4.4% - 6.8%
Paprika 2.4% - 2.8%
White Pepper 2.1% - 2.3%
Onion Powder 1.2% - 1.5%
Garlic Powder 1.28%- 1.33%
Chili Powder 0.85%- 0.89%
Nutmeg (ground) 1.0% - 1.2%
Oregano 0.39%- 0.48%
Marjoram 0.43%- 0.44%
Anise Powder 0.43%- 0.44%
Cloves (powdered) 0.09%- 0.13%;
the proportions of ingredients within the above-stated ranges being so chosen that their sum totals 100% of said composition.

2. A food seasoning composition according to claim 1, consisting essentially of the following ingredients, by weight:

Salt 83.9%
Sugar 5.25 Paprika 2.6%
White Pepper 2.2%
Nutmeg 1.1%
Onions 1.3%
Garlic 1.3%
Chili 0.88%
Anise 0.94%
Oregano 0.44%
Marjoram 0.44%
Cloves 0.1%