moulu

Moulu is a French adjective and past participle meaning ground or milled, used to describe substances that have been processed by grinding. It is frequently found in culinary terms to indicate products prepared by milling, rather than sold in whole form, such as café moulu (ground coffee) and poivre moulu (ground pepper). The term can also apply to other milled substances, like épices moulues or farine moulue, to denote that the material has been reduced in particle size.

Moulu derives from the verb moudre, to grind. The masculine singular form is moulu; feminine singular is moulue, masculine plural moulus, feminine plural moulues. In usage, the form agrees with the noun it modifies.

In cooking, moulu contrasts with en poudre (in powder) or frais, depending on the degree and form of milling. The expression moulu often implies a standard milled state used for seasoning or preparation, whereas en poudre emphasizes a finer, powdery texture. The term also appears in product labeling and recipes, where precision about texture matters for flavor release and recipe outcomes.

Related terms include moudre (to grind), mouture (the act or product of grinding; grinding yield), and poudre (powder).