Ras al Hanout
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Ras el hanout is a complex, aromatic Moroccan spice blend that's so famously associated with Moroccan cuisine, it always makes the list of foods to bring back from a trip to Morocco. The literal translation of ras el hanout from Arabic to English is “head of the shop," implying that this mix of spices is the very best offering in a spice shop. Due to its liberal use in mrouzia, a lamb and honey dish with intense seasoning, ras el hanout is also sometimes called mrouzia spice. No two versions of this spice blend are the same, so if sampling ras el hanout from different sources, you'll notice slight flavor variations. While most recipes include cardamom, nutmeg, anise, mace, cinnamon, ginger, various peppers, and turmeric, a total of 30 or more ingredients might be used in varying quantities.
