Maitseained

Maitseained, meaning seasonings or flavorings, are ingredients used to impart taste to food. In Estonian usage, the term covers a broad range of products, from dried herbs and ground spices to salt blends, vinegars, sugars, and ready-made flavor mixes. They are employed to season soups, stews, meat, fish, vegetables, and baked goods, often alongside fresh herbs.

Common components include dried herbs such as dill, parsley, and chives, and marjoram; spices like black pepper, caraway, mustard seeds, and cumin; as well as salt-based blends such as garlic salt or herb salt. In addition, vinegars, sugar or syrup, and fruity or sour flavorings are used to balance dishes. Ready-made maitseained mixes also appear in grocery stores and restaurant kitchens.

Estonian cooks typically use maitseained to enhance natural flavors rather than mask them. Dill is especially associated with fish and potatoes, while caraway and rye-related flavors appear in breads and savory pastries. The use of maitseained reflects broader Baltic and Nordic culinary influences and has evolved with trade and globalization, resulting in a wide variety of local and imported blends.

Storage and handling: dried herbs and spices should be kept in cool, dark places in tightly closed containers; ground spices lose potency faster than whole seeds. Fresh herbs are used at their peak when added near the end of cooking or as a garnish. The term maitseained is used widely in both home kitchens and professional kitchens.