Ras el hanout. It is a 'must have' blend of herbs and spices is used across the Middle East and North Africa. The name means "top of the shop" in Arabic, and refers to a mixture of the best spices a seller has to offer. It is an interesting blend of sweet spices that is essential to Moroccan cooking. Ras el hanout is used in pastilla, the Moroccan squab and almond pie, and is sometimes rubbed on meats or stirred into couscous or rice. It is often believed to be an aphrodisiac. Ingredients: Cloves, coriander cardamom, mace, lavender, rosebud, nigella, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground chili peppers.