SPICES

SPICES

In the culinary arts, the word spice refers to any dried part of a plant, other than the leaves, used for seasoning and flavoring a recipe, but not used as the main ingredient. Why not the leaves? Because the green leafy parts of plants used in this way are considered herbs. Every other part of the plant, including dried bark, roots, berries, seeds, twigs, or anything else that isn't the green leafy part, is considered a spice. Today, India produces about 75 percent of the world's spices. They even created the Indian Insitute of Spices Research devoted to the study of spices.

Spices are the dried form of various seeds, roots, fruits, barks, vegetables, and other plant substances primarily used for coloring, flavoring, and preserving the food.

• They are found everywhere in the world and form an essential part of the culinary practices of all the cultures. Their original use was as a flavoring agent, which then demonstrated antimicrobial properties by keeping the food fresh for longer durations and improving the health of those who ate them regularly.
• One of the best things about spices is that when prepared, dried, and stored properly, they can last almost forever.
• Also, since they are so low in calories, being ground up in tiny forms, there is no danger of any side effects. In fact, they contain proteins and organic compounds that are necessary for overall health.

Flavor Profile of Spices

Bitter

• Bitter spices are believed to have an acquired taste.
• Spices that are considered bitter are bay leaves, fenugreek seeds, horseradish, mace, cloves, cumin seeds, etc.Earthy
• These spices have an earthy flavor, which comes from geosmin.
• Cumin and saffron are spices that have an earthy flavor.

Hot

• Hot spices are those that add a strong flavor to the food and make it spicier.
• Pepper, chilis, mustard seeds, garlic are all hot spices.
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Sweet

The health benefits of spices are innumerable. They aid in improving heart health, inducing sweating, keeping the skin healthy, regulating the metabolism, and detoxifying the body. Spices protect the body by fighting infection, boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and preventing cancer.

They are also good for aiding in weight loss, increasing appetite, strengthening bones, reducing stress, improving digestion, protecting against diseases, curing colds, protecting oral health, and balancing the hormones.

Health Benefits of Spices

Let’s take a look at the exciting benefits that many of the world’s most popular spices can contribute to our overall health!

Allspice

Allspice is a soothing, anti-inflammatory, and carminative spice. Its benefits include reducing cancer, improving oral health, stimulating digestion, facilitating bone growth, and boosting the immune system. It also helps in reducing blood pressure and acts as an analgesic or anesthetic substance.

Anise Seed (STAR - FUL)

This powerful spice has antioxidant as well as a stomachic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, antiseptic, digestive, expectorant, and stimulant properties. It is a great source of vitamins and minerals like iron, potassium, copper, and manganese. Anise seed helps increase the circulation and oxygenation of body parts while boosting the immune system and improving the quality of your skin.

Bay Leaf (TAMAAL PATRA)

Bay leaf is a very popular spice throughout the world and is praised for its ability to prevent cancer, boost immunity, reduce neural tube defects, protect oral health, skin care, and hair care. It also helps improve nervous system function, regulate body metabolism, and prevent blood-related conditions like anemia.

Black Pepper (KALI - MEERI)

Black pepper is one of the most common spices in the world packed with many health benefits. It has an ability to reduce inflammation and excess gas, optimize gastrointestinal action, and regulate enzymatic reactions. Black pepper helps control heart rate and blood pressure and prevent cancer due to its antioxidant properties.

Cardamom (ELAICHI)

The health benefits of cardamom include its ability to aid digestion, reduce spasms, lower blood pressure, increase the metabolism, improve circulation, and increase frequency and volume of urination. It also provides the essential vitamins like riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, and minerals like iron, manganese, and potassium.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is praised for its ability to reduce inflammation, eliminate pain, manage diabetes, eliminate infections, reduce excess gas, and improve heart health. It also helps in increasing cognitive function, building strong bones, preventing cancer, and improving the health of the eyes and skin!

Cloves (LAVANGA)

Cloves have anti-microbial properties, which help in fighting oral diseases. They also are good for boosting the immune system, preventing cancer, and preserving bone health.

Cumin

Cumin seeds are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and carminative by nature. They improve digestion, increase sperm count, build strong bones, improve eyesight, and prevent macular degeneration. Other benefits of cumin seeds include their ability to manage heart rate, lower blood pressure, act as a co-factor in many enzymatic reactions, increase red blood cell count, and prevent various types of cancer.

Fenugreek Seeds (MEETHI SEEDS)

Fenugreek seeds are a very popular and effective spice in certain Asian cultures that add a powerful nutrient boost to the body. They have the ability to improve digestion and reduce constipation, lower cholesterol levels, regulate insulin levels, and manage fluid levels in the body.

Garlic

Garlic is a great spice used to add a unique flavor to the food. It helps fight heart disorders, high blood pressure, and cold and cough.

Ginger

Largely known for aiding in digestion, ginger is a spice that exerts many benefits like preventing cancer, boosting the appetite, and improving respiratory conditions, among others.

Mace

Mace has the ability to boost the immune system, build strong bones, reduce depression, increase sexual libido, stimulate digestion, and reduce excess gas and insomnia. It also helps keep the skin healthy, boost hair health, and increase circulation to all parts of the body.

Mustard Seeds

Mustard seeds are packed with organic compounds and volatile oils that can boost your overall health. They are also a wonderful source of B-complex vitamins, which are essential for normal functioning of your organs.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a great source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals necessary for human health. It can fight fungal infections, work as an aphrodisiac, improve digestion, reduce excess gas, improve hair and skin health. It also helps prevent macular degeneration, and reduce the chances of developing cancer.

Saffron

Saffron contains many carotenoids and boosts immune system health in a big way. It also fights infections in wounds, elevates mood, induces sleep, stimulates red blood cell formation, eliminates spasms, and modulates hormonal activity. Saffron can reduce blood pressure through the vasodilating properties of potassium found in it.

Turmeric

Turmeric is best known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It aids in skin care, prevents cancer, eases menstruation, and detoxifies the body.

Tamarind (CHIN-CHA)

Tamarind is a South Asian spice is very popular because it has the ability to improve blood vessels and artery strength, regulate digestion and excretion in a healthy way, prevent cancer, lower blood cholesterol, and build strong bones. It also helps increase blood circulation and oxygenation, regulate enzymatic activity in the body, and improve the mucous membranes throughout the body as well.

Spices by Cuisine

Indian Spices

The following spices are included in a variety of Indian dishes:

Cardamom, black pepper, curry leaves, fenugreek, ginger, fennel, ajwain, tamarind, bay leaves, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander seed, turmeric, clove, ginger, nutmeg, paprika, garam masala, curry powder, and cinnamon.

Middle Eastern Spices

Middle Eastern cuisines include the following spices:

Cumin, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, sumac, Baharat, caraway, anise seeds, allspice, cinnamon.

Mediterranean Spices

Majority of Mediterranean dishes include these common spices:

Cinnamon, oregano, bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, nutmeg.

Other Spices Sichuan pepper, ginseng, and chipotle are other spices that are used in many cuisines.