Szczypta

Szczypta is a Polish culinary term describing a very small amount of an ingredient, typically the amount that can be held between the tip of the thumb and forefinger in a pinching motion. Because szczypta is not a precise unit, its volume varies with the ingredient and the person measuring it. In practice it is often taken to be roughly 0.3–0.5 milliliters, corresponding to about 1/16 to 1/8 of a teaspoon, though these estimates can differ between cooks and recipes.

The word's origin is uncertain, but it is generally linked to the act of pinching with fingers and functions as an informal measure in Polish cooking rather than a fixed quantity.

Szczypta is used for spices, salt, pepper, and other seasonings, especially when a tiny amount is requested or when flavors are to be adjusted gradually. It appears in many Polish recipes alongside other informal measures and is often translated in English-language cookbooks as "a pinch." In more formal recipe writing, szczypta is sometimes replaced with a more precise term or left to taste.

In culinary practice, szczypta serves as a flexible guide rather than a strict measurement, reflecting the artisanal nature of seasoning and the variability of individual hands and ingredients.