Flavour Analysis

Flavours can be (roughly) pinned down on a handful of aromatic compounds. Complementary pairings tend to exploit similarities in ingredients, either through their lineage (carrots and dill are good) or through the overlap of the compounds they produce (cinnamon and cloves both contain eugenol).

Can Wikipedia tell us what spices and herbs we should:

  • pair to make tasty food; and
  • substitute when we're missing some?

In [3]:
library(jsonlite)
install.packages('curl')


The downloaded binary packages are in
	/var/folders/y_/wsxrd3b16k99k229_7f38sph0000gn/T//Rtmp78JbLR/downloaded_packages

In [22]:
category.contents <- function(categories){
    
    lapply(categories, function(cat.q){fromJSON(paste0("https://en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=query&list=categorymembers&cmtitle=",cat.q, "&cmtype=page&cmlimit=1000&format=json"))$query$categorymembers})
}
(flavours <- category.contents("Category:Flavors"))


Out[22]:
  1. pageidnstitle
    1105910Flavor
    210390750Aroma compound
    3314790310SuperSweet
    4284105660Key odorant
    5176719720Odour activity value
    6891950Acetaldehyde
    7199165940Acetic acid
    817794840Acetoin
    91500848102-Acetyl-1-pyrroline
    101501254906-Acetyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine
    11463354590Acetylpropionyl
    12242550230Ambroxide
    1318291280Amyl acetate
    1415848290Anethole
    15340753704-Anisaldehyde
    1614812860Anisole
    17370892880Artificial butter flavoring
    1842677510Balsam of Peru
    19176599190Beefy meaty peptide
    20192178660Benzaldehyde
    2132183160Benzyl acetate
    228748120Benzyl alcohol
    23419980230Benzyl cinnamate
    24186133750Benzylacetone
    2529892250Butyl acetate
    2654108760Butyl butyrate
    2727149710Butyraldehyde
    282323450Butyric acid
    2933311930Cadinene
    3032454170Camphene
    3132293340Carene
    3217509340Carvone
    3332257590Caryophyllene
    345363140Cinnamaldehyde
    359266010Cinnamic acid
    3660959230Cinnamyl alcohol
    3717712970Citral
    389486990Citronella oil
    3917711690Citronellal
    4032327010Citronellol
    41437331520Civet (perfumery)
    4232122640Cuminaldehyde
    43436749800Cyclopentadecanolide
    4432195050P-Cymene
    453629300Diacetyl
    465705800Diethyl malonate
    4719511020Enoxolone
    483779194701,1-Ethanedithiol
    496124510Ethanethiol
    5013031340Ethyl acetate
    5127267430Ethyl acetoacetate
    5241864260Ethyl benzoate
    538259640Ethyl butyrate
    5423505100Ethyl cinnamate
    55371352830Ethyl decadienoate
    5632925110Ethyl heptanoate
    5732582480Ethyl maltol
    5854478900Ethyl methylphenylglycidate
    5954107380Ethyl pentanoate
    6032937140Ethyl salicylate
    61190358910Ethylvanillin
    6249566760Eucalyptus oil
    6313626560Eugenol
    6432388010Farnesol
    65375914760Filbertone
    66218528960Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association
    6717285740Flavor scalping
    6880738640Flavored syrup
    6941697910Flavorist
    70192444240Foodpairing
    71161479520Fructone
    72156424810Furaneol
    734900200Furfural
    746661050Fusel alcohol
    7520094120Geosmin
    7612167190Geraniol
    7757344570Geranyl acetate
    7843202690Grapefruit mercaptan
    7932123890Guaiacol
    8051161970Heptyl acetate
    8115858750Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol
    8254296801-Hexanol
    832584557403-Hexanol
    8416413860Cis-3-Hexenal
    85128502340Hexyl cinnamaldehyde
    8617714730Ionone
    87418316580Iso E Super
    8841646540Isoamyl acetate
    8929978010Isobutyl acetate
    9080180740Isobutyraldehyde
    91141421260Isomaltol
    9237553090Isopropyl acetate
    93407151020Isovaleraldehyde
    9431290810Isovanillin
    9517791630Limonene
    9613801440Linalool
    9733412440Maltol
    9832141940Menthone
    99179403090Menthoxypropanediol
    100411455020Methional
    10130032670Methyl benzoate
    10215154360Methyl butyrate
    103124194180Methyl cinnamate
    104206687350Methyl dihydrojasmonate
    105153728750Methyl phenylacetate
    1068565440Methyl salicylate
    1072584572903-Methyl-1-pentanol
    108345193303-Methylbutanoic acid
    1092176478102-Methylisoborneol
    11032736820Muscone
    11132191250Myrcene
    112255714990Myrcenol
    11332327500Nerol
    11432542990Nerolidol
    1151338103702-Nonenal
    11689679530Nootkatone
    11714836340Nutmeg oil
    11880823380Oct-1-en-3-one
    119409411700Off-flavour
    12020700490Oleoresin
    12129789600Orange oil
    122134400610Paprika oleoresin
    12311068710Pentyl butyrate
    12414347130Pentyl pentanoate
    125167563450Peroxide value
    12673952660Phenethyl alcohol
    12725262680Phenylacetic acid
    1281883780Phosphoric acid
    12937698100Alpha-Pinene
    13054716310Beta-Pinene
    131350277330Pomarose
    13234515370Prenol
    13329981110Propyl acetate
    13429256020Pulegone
    135121024500Raspberry ketone
    13621616440Rose oil
    13756380810Sage oil
    13837648330Salicylaldehyde
    13916361940Sotolon
    14068991450Terpineol
    1418900690Thymol
    142112536880Truffle oil
    143136659000Vanillic acid
    1442281900Vanillin
    145189860580Ortho-Vanillin
    14610145180Volatile organic compound
    147416232200Wakatu Hops

In [12]:
flavours$query$categorymembers


Out[12]:
pageidnstitle
1105910Flavor
210390750Aroma compound
3314790310SuperSweet
4284105660Key odorant
5176719720Odour activity value
6891950Acetaldehyde
7199165940Acetic acid
817794840Acetoin
91500848102-Acetyl-1-pyrroline
101501254906-Acetyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyridine
11463354590Acetylpropionyl
12242550230Ambroxide
1318291280Amyl acetate
1415848290Anethole
15340753704-Anisaldehyde
1614812860Anisole
17370892880Artificial butter flavoring
1842677510Balsam of Peru
19176599190Beefy meaty peptide
20192178660Benzaldehyde
2132183160Benzyl acetate
228748120Benzyl alcohol
23419980230Benzyl cinnamate
24186133750Benzylacetone
2529892250Butyl acetate
2654108760Butyl butyrate
2727149710Butyraldehyde
282323450Butyric acid
2933311930Cadinene
3032454170Camphene
3132293340Carene
3217509340Carvone
3332257590Caryophyllene
345363140Cinnamaldehyde
359266010Cinnamic acid
3660959230Cinnamyl alcohol
3717712970Citral
389486990Citronella oil
3917711690Citronellal
4032327010Citronellol
41437331520Civet (perfumery)
4232122640Cuminaldehyde
43436749800Cyclopentadecanolide
4432195050P-Cymene
453629300Diacetyl
465705800Diethyl malonate
4719511020Enoxolone
483779194701,1-Ethanedithiol
496124510Ethanethiol
5013031340Ethyl acetate
5127267430Ethyl acetoacetate
5241864260Ethyl benzoate
538259640Ethyl butyrate
5423505100Ethyl cinnamate
55371352830Ethyl decadienoate
5632925110Ethyl heptanoate
5732582480Ethyl maltol
5854478900Ethyl methylphenylglycidate
5954107380Ethyl pentanoate
6032937140Ethyl salicylate
61190358910Ethylvanillin
6249566760Eucalyptus oil
6313626560Eugenol
6432388010Farnesol
65375914760Filbertone
66218528960Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association
6717285740Flavor scalping
6880738640Flavored syrup
6941697910Flavorist
70192444240Foodpairing
71161479520Fructone
72156424810Furaneol
734900200Furfural
746661050Fusel alcohol
7520094120Geosmin
7612167190Geraniol
7757344570Geranyl acetate
7843202690Grapefruit mercaptan
7932123890Guaiacol
8051161970Heptyl acetate
8115858750Cis-3-Hexen-1-ol
8254296801-Hexanol
832584557403-Hexanol
8416413860Cis-3-Hexenal
85128502340Hexyl cinnamaldehyde
8617714730Ionone
87418316580Iso E Super
8841646540Isoamyl acetate
8929978010Isobutyl acetate
9080180740Isobutyraldehyde
91141421260Isomaltol
9237553090Isopropyl acetate
93407151020Isovaleraldehyde
9431290810Isovanillin
9517791630Limonene
9613801440Linalool
9733412440Maltol
9832141940Menthone
99179403090Menthoxypropanediol
100411455020Methional
10130032670Methyl benzoate
10215154360Methyl butyrate
103124194180Methyl cinnamate
104206687350Methyl dihydrojasmonate
105153728750Methyl phenylacetate
1068565440Methyl salicylate
1072584572903-Methyl-1-pentanol
108345193303-Methylbutanoic acid
1092176478102-Methylisoborneol
11032736820Muscone
11132191250Myrcene
112255714990Myrcenol
11332327500Nerol
11432542990Nerolidol
1151338103702-Nonenal
11689679530Nootkatone
11714836340Nutmeg oil
11880823380Oct-1-en-3-one
119409411700Off-flavour
12020700490Oleoresin
12129789600Orange oil
122134400610Paprika oleoresin
12311068710Pentyl butyrate
12414347130Pentyl pentanoate
125167563450Peroxide value
12673952660Phenethyl alcohol
12725262680Phenylacetic acid
1281883780Phosphoric acid
12937698100Alpha-Pinene
13054716310Beta-Pinene
131350277330Pomarose
13234515370Prenol
13329981110Propyl acetate
13429256020Pulegone
135121024500Raspberry ketone
13621616440Rose oil
13756380810Sage oil
13837648330Salicylaldehyde
13916361940Sotolon
14068991450Terpineol
1418900690Thymol
142112536880Truffle oil
143136659000Vanillic acid
1442281900Vanillin
145189860580Ortho-Vanillin
14610145180Volatile organic compound
147416232200Wakatu Hops

In [23]:
(spices.herbs <- category.contents(c("Category:Herbs","Category:Spices")))


Out[23]:
  1. pageidnstitle
    1245427690Herb
    276094580Herbal distillate
    361019300List of basil cultivars
    4741700Achillea millefolium
    584956710Achyrocline satureioides
    6160550420Aerva javanica
    762045350African blue basil
    881930300Agrimonia eupatoria
    9369400Alkanna tinctoria
    10350282040Allium siculum
    11423533420Allium subhirsutum
    125301640Allium tuberosum
    134770110Allium ursinum
    147461560Aloysia citrodora
    15308723730American ginseng
    1686912090Androstephium coeruleum
    1726494950Anthriscus sylvestris
    18302918270Artemisia argyi
    19212496960Artemisia pallens
    205026880Artemisia vulgaris
    214608790Asarum
    2227297370Asarum europaeum
    2369346840Asarum splendens
    24103353210Astragalus propinquus
    2565168520List of Australian herbs and spices
    2611207050Barbarea verna
    273468650Basil
    2834190Bay leaf
    2926767940Boldo
    306166980Borage
    31242878360Calamintha nepeta
    32383100Cannabis
    33180635830Chamaemelum nobile
    3453940Chervil
    3553950Chives
    3618007610Cicely
    3787351120Cinnamon basil
    38247059800Cirsium dissectum
    39709500Clove
    40783220Comfrey
    4110270390Coptis
    423416400Coriander
    43228849780Cruciata laevipes
    44215897630Curcuma caesia
    458518520Curry tree
    46134880080Cymbopogon citratus
    47186453530Cyperus scariosus
    4887635630Dark opal basil
    499062480Demulcent
    5079850Dill
    5115544090Dysphania ambrosioides
    5298646430Echinophora sibthorpiana
    5312145070Eleutherococcus senticosus
    5415627170Emmenagogue
    55308636320Eryngium foetidum
    56115714680Ezov
    575984520Filé powder
    582550640Filipendula ulmaria
    5987631620Fino verde basil
    60461961950Floscopa scandens
    61407477880Galium anisophyllon
    6212264820Galium odoratum
    634721950Garden cress
    6487308660Genovese basil
    654500230Ginseng
    6611473290Goji
    6776045420Gratiola officinalis
    6835147730Gynostemma pentaphyllum
    6927788360Helichrysum petiolare
    709633130Hemp
    7115695660Herb farm
    72112646800Herb Strewer
    731693150Herbes de Provence
    7447349840Hierochloe odorata
    75443109850Hoi Tin Tong
    76474318810Hypochaeris chillensis
    7714656090Hypochaeris radicata
    78783280Hyssopus (plant)
    79200779680Hyssopus officinalis
    8015616300International Herb Association
    8116561590Jalap
    82225776230Jimbu
    8310899390John the Conqueror
    841967820Kaffir lime
    854290440Laurus nobilis
    86333980650Laurus novocanariensis
    87176430Lavandula
    8834581840Lavandula angustifolia
    89305086190Lavandula latifolia
    9033081230Lemon basil
    9119067700Leontopodium
    924185820Leontopodium alpinum
    93185414230Leontopodium discolor
    9487349350Lettuce leaf basil
    9540578390Limnophila aromatica
    9656683740Lippia
    97259112700Lippia graveolens
    98217822890Lomatium parryi
    9919130960Lycium barbarum
    10024348450Lycium chinense
    10187632670Magical Michael
    10287633440Mammoth basil
    103189560Marjoram
    104134900Marrubium vulgare
    105176440Melissa officinalis
    106189550Mentha
    107120325770Mentha australis
    1081025020Mentha pulegium
    10925592380Mentha requienii
    11014385500Mentha suaveolens
    1111049530Micromeria douglasii
    11256032890Microseris lanceolata
    11331643410Monarda citriodora
    11487372760Mrs. Burns lemon basil
    11549679250Mugwort
    1168667480Nashia inaguensis
    117424930820Nasturtium floridanum
    118424934000Nasturtium microphyllum
    11957110Nepeta
    12020432440Nigella sativa
    12187512780Nufar basil
    12215484870Ocimum
    123202033790Ocimum americanum
    124257226130Ocimum gratissimum
    12521228370Ocimum tenuiflorum
    126512580Onion
    127222660Oregano
    12887645960Osmin purple basil
    12941249950Osmorhiza
    130129042560Oxalis stricta
    13110716130Papaver somniferum
    132232060Parsley
    13394351180Pediomelum hypogaeum
    134232090Peppermint
    1353128800Perilla
    1367654220Persicaria odorata
    13732557670Phytolacca americana
    1387788480Plectranthus amboinicus
    13945902940Polemonium caeruleum
    14011374190Porophyllum ruderale
    141105472020Pseudostellaria heterophylla
    14287636830Purple ruffles basil
    14387634680Red rubin basil
    144304052530Reyhan
    14531735990Rhododendron groenlandicum
    14626840000Rhododendron subsect. Ledum
    14754075020Rosa × damascena
    148254840Rosemary
    149303732620Rumex scutatus
    15010254910Ruta
    15118009160Ruta graveolens
    152236027610Sacred herbs
    153213463600Salvia
    154345393000Salvia aegyptiaca
    155171282100Salvia caymanensis
    1564338920Salvia officinalis
    157345327530Salvia parryi
    1584338970Salvia sclarea
    159137345690Salvia verbenaca
    160310579390Samudra Methi
    161100978320Sassafras albidum
    162463174690Sassafras tzumu
    163269020Satureja
    164227679340Scrophularia umbrosa
    16552370890Scutellaria costaricana
    166108758670Scutellaria galericulata
    16790446560Scutellaria lateriflora
    168186768760Scutellaria nana
    16934256470Senna obtusifolia
    17031722980Siraitia grosvenorii
    17143274400Smudge stick
    172215737150Snow Mountain Garlic
    17315815080Sonchus
    174271830Sorrel
    175268990Spearmint
    17687348440Spicy globe basil
    177281520Stevia
    178425008400Stevia (genus)
    17913234390Stevia rebaudiana
    180189397270Strewing herb
    18119758060Summer savory
    182321392040Sweet Dani basil
    183117799420Tagetes lucida
    184226566370Tagetes minuta
    18515360320Tanacetum parthenium
    186192304140Taraxacum
    187107832900Taraxacum officinale
    188299670Tarragon
    18941124420Teucrium polium
    19070450850Teucrium scorodonia
    19133080690Thai basil
    192299680Thyme
    193289703580Thymus caespititius
    194289706440Thymus capitatus
    195289707280Thymus carnosus
    196115127950Thymus citriodorus
    19745820130Thymus herba-barona
    198431318810Thymus integer
    199324229240Thymus mastichina
    200160387860Thymus moroderi
    20121662500Thymus praecox
    202184346390Thymus pseudolanuginosus
    20315242190Thymus serpyllum
    20447221350Thymus vulgaris
    20596271990Turnsole
    20632005010Verbena officinalis
    20714522810Vigna umbellata
    2084696460Watercress
    20918179080Winter savory
    21014620640Wintergreen
    211375720100Yerba buena
    212135002940Zanthoxylum ailanthoides
  2. pageidnstitle
    1268970Spice
    23715400Acorus calamus
    312423400Adobo
    4259980110Aframomum corrorima
    52941270Aframomum melegueta
    63468600Ajwain
    782501880Aleppo pepper
    8382917510Alleppey Green Cardamom
    9123958970Alligator pepper
    101948730Allspice
    1158632480Alpinia galanga
    12385292800Alpinia nigra
    1391675500Alpinia officinarum
    14364506940Andaliman
    1519192810Angostura bitters
    16686740Anise
    173040910Annatto
    181933660Asafoetida
    1965168520List of Australian herbs and spices
    2042677510Balsam of Peru
    21449572280Beau monde seasoning
    2242315030Berberis vulgaris
    23478500860Bird's eye chili
    24609530Black cardamom
    251501160Black pepper
    261653520Boesenbergia rotunda
    2717299720Brassica nigra
    2823639940Bunium bulbocastanum
    2920508560Bunium persicum
    30124619320Byadagi chilli
    312759780Camphor
    3287511380Candy cap
    33246405620Canella
    343093170Caper
    351735460Caraway
    36609510Cardamom
    37115452920Carissa carandas
    384426170Catechu
    39478625310Cayenne pepper
    4065350Celery
    41449565600Celery powder
    421636170Chicory
    4310673440Chili powder
    444605870Cinnamomum cassia
    4586162100Cinnamomum burmannii
    4620772660Cinnamomum camphora
    47177167980Cinnamomum citriodorum
    48434190490Cinnamomum dubium
    49356933690Cinnamomum mercadoi
    50177164920Cinnamomum osmophloeum
    51434190990Cinnamomum ovalifolium
    52177159590Cinnamomum pedunculatum
    53534690Cinnamon
    54709500Clove
    55382917710Coorg Green Cardamom
    563416400Coriander
    5758178970Crab boil
    5828716850Cubeb
    59478637300Cumin
    60473286650Cymbopetalum costaricense
    61473701330Cymbopetalum penduliflorum
    62392000670Dalea lasiathera
    6379850Dill
    6423479910Dipteryx odorata
    65250293040Ditaxis heterantha
    6633163200Dried lime
    6793103670Drimys winteri
    685219470Elettaria
    6973519370Elettaria cardamomum
    70217762090Euphorbia serpyllifolia
    711735480Fennel
    722898340Fenugreek
    73654520Galangal
    741948740Garam masala
    7516525600Garcinia gummi-gutta
    76308625100Garcinia indica
    77504690Garlic
    7841432360Garlic powder
    7914605550Gaultheria procumbens
    80549290Ginger
    81308565970Grains of Selim
    82185500560Heracleum persicum
    83457140Horseradish
    841925750Illicium verum
    8510274410Jamaican jerk spice
    8661354820Juniper berry
    871967820Kaffir lime
    882354410Kala Namak
    89233219260Leptotes bicolor
    902491160Liquorice
    91409772200List of mustard brands
    92177206200List of Pakistani spices
    9330724610Long pepper
    9422316120Macropiper excelsum
    9530592570Mahlab
    964812320Malagueta pepper
    97262946790Mastic (plant resin)
    98127244080Monodora myristica
    99308606140Mustard (condiment)
    1001877740Mustard seed
    101968610Myrrh
    102377568130Nardostachys jatamansi
    10320432440Nigella sativa
    104123420360Njangsa
    105385460Nutmeg
    10631125480Onion powder
    10792975300Orange bitters
    10858768400Pandanus amaryllifolius
    109478625140Paprika
    110286616670Parmotrema perlatum
    111300814300Pectis papposa
    112357283070Penzeys Spices
    11327232090Persicaria hydropiper
    11419540270Phyllanthus emblica
    11569424890Pink peppercorn
    116312028230Piper borbonense
    117128692700Piper guineense
    11827047260Piri piri
    119608400Pistacia lentiscus
    12087680430Poppy seed
    12111374190Porophyllum ruderale
    122355718760Pseudowintera axillaris
    123282890280Rhus coriaria
    12454075020Rosa × damascena
    125533320Saffron
    126134904640Trade and use of saffron
    12733452540Saigon Cinnamon
    12887365510Schinus molle
    12921343400Schinus terebinthifolius
    130824200Sesame
    13179304390Siling labuyo
    132248383640Siling mahaba
    1333010240Silphium
    1344998090Smilax ornata
    13516511160Solanum centrale
    13630494890Solo garlic
    137438745870The Spice of Life (BBC TV series)
    1385065480Spice trade
    139311439280The Spice Trail
    140392831500Spiced wine
    141308718870Spikenard
    142692320Sumac
    14361680070Syzygium anisatum
    14420673720Tagetes patula
    1452279310Tamarind
    14640362890Tasmannia lanceolata
    14767174850Tasmannia stipitata
    14819696130Trachyspermum roxburghianum
    149401025070Trigonella caerulea
    150299730Turmeric
    151143728510Urfa biber
    152123489880Uzazi
    153326230Vanilla
    154336370Wasabi
    15527297930White mustard
    156352451210Zanthoxylum piperitum
    1575219480Zingiber

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