The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word CLOVE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
L
O
V
E
More clues leading to the result CLOVE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "something spicy" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case something spicy = clove.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CLOVE mean?
CLOVE noun- A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree.
- A clove tree, of the species Syzygium aromaticum (syn. Caryophyllus aromaticus), native to the Moluccas (Indonesian islands), which produces the spice.
- An old English measure of weight, containing 7 pounds (3.2 kg), i.e. half a stone.
- Any one of the separate bulbs that make up the larger bulb of garlic.
- To split or sever something with, or as if with, a sharp instrument.
- To break a single crystal (such as a gemstone or semiconductor wafer) along one of its more symmetrical crystallographic planes (often by impact), forming facets on the resulting pieces.
- To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting.
- To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
- To split.
- Of a crystal, to split along a natural plane of division.
- A narrow valley with steep sides, used in areas of North America first settled by the Dutch