noun
General term for spices, condiments, or seasoning added to food.
料理にかやくを加えると風味が増す。
Adding spices to the dish enhances the flavor.
noun
adjuvant (in Chinese medicine); addition of an adjuvant
Technical term in Chinese medicine for an adjuvant substance or its addition.
漢方では、かやくとして甘草を加えることがある。
In Chinese medicine, licorice is sometimes added as an adjuvant.
noun
ingredients added to rice or udon (Kansai dialect)
Kansai dialect term for meat, fish, vegetables, etc. added to rice or udon, as in gomoku meshi.
See also: 五目飯
関西では、うどんにかやくをたっぷりのせて食べる。
In Kansai, they eat udon with plenty of toppings.
薬味 refers specifically to condiments or spices used as garnishes, while かやく is a broader term for seasonings or ingredients added during cooking.
The word かやく is derived from 加薬, literally 'added medicine' or 'added substance'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it likely originated from the idea of adding beneficial ingredients to food or medicine.