Literally, “top of the shop,â€a Moroccan seasoning mix that may include dozens of ingredients—some, like orrisroot and ash berries, quite exotic.
A Moroccan spice mixture that can contain up to 100 different spices and is used in couscous, rice, meat and vegetable dishes; like garam masala, the mixture of spices in ras el hanout depends on the maker and the spices available, but may include cardamom, cayenne, aniseed, nutmeg, mace, ginger, galangal or even dried ground rosebuds.