India has been known worldwide for its diversity in terms of culture, language and, especially, food. This diversity is prominent in natural landscapes and in several aspects like religion, culture, architecture and cuisine.
Indian cuisines are diverse and delicious simultaneously, thanks to the great Indian spices used while cooking. There is no denying that several food items and recipes of India are world-famous due to the spices used in them.
Besides India, spices are also produced in several parts of the world, but those grown on Indian land are incomparable in attributes. These spices add aroma and taste to the food. For this reason, herbs and spices are said to be the main essence of Indian cooking ingredients.
Moreover, some spices also possess specific medicinal properties. Many spices of India, like celery, cumin, mint, and coriander, have been proven to cure diseases ranging from colds and coughs to cancerous tumors. Indians can’t even imagine their food without these spices.
Although India’s all spices possess unique qualities, some are considered a must-have in every recipe to optimize your diet. This article enumerates eight of those must-have Indian spices that you must include in your diet. Continue reading!
Table of Contents
1. Bishop’s weed-
Also known as Ajwain, is a widely used spice in Indian foods and the pharmaceutical industry. Bishop’s weed is commonly used as a food preservative and looks like powder. It closely resembles cumin seeds, but it tastes different.
Ajwain is considered good for digestion, and that’s why it is used in various pulses and vegetables that are heavy to digest. This spice can be consumed even by babies.
2. Black pepper–
It is famous as Kali Mirch in India. Black pepper is available in two forms; you can either buy the powdered form or the form of seeds. Its seeds look like tiny, round-shaped, black-colored balls with coarse surfaces.
Also, it has many variants like white, green and red pepper. The black pepper plant can be cultivated in moist and organically rich soil; hence, it is primarily found in the south Indian region.
3. Cardamom-
It is well-known as Elaichi in the Indian subcontinent. This Indian spice is extensively used in Scandinavian and Indian cuisine to add aroma and taste to various foods. It is also used in several beverages to enhance their flavor.
You will find two varieties of cardamom- small-sized, green-colored and black-colored, big-sized cardamom.
4. Clove-
Clove is a popular spice that closely resembles an iron nail. In India, it is called Laung. This spice is very aromatic and possesses impressive medicinal and therapeutic qualities. It contains a good amount of oil; hence, it is also used for making oil. The clove tree belongs to the evergreen class of trees. Moreover, it has found its application in the fabrication of toiletries.
5. Coriander-
Coriander, or Dhania in the Indian language, is often used in Indian cuisine. It is used in both fresh (leaves) form and dried form. Coriander adds aroma and flavor to the food items. It is mainly sprinkled in raw form over some dishes to enhance their appearance and taste.
6. Turmeric-
Popular with the name Haldi in India, turmeric is an incredible spice and an effective medicine. Turmeric belongs to the ginger family, and it is a perennial plant that has a long life.
The two forms in which it is commonly used are solid and powdered. Besides adding taste, its primary role in the food is to provide good color. Turmeric offers excellent medicinal benefits for the skin as well as health.
7. Cumin–
Commonly known as Jeera, it is one of the most aromatic spices and a key ingredient in any curry prepared in India. It is light brown and slightly bitter. Its intense aroma and strong essence make every dish so relishing and delectable. Also, cumin is excellent for digestion.
8. Ginger-
It is one of the well-known Indian spices widely used in every Indian household daily. Ginger is a therapeutic compound with a sweet, citrusy taste. It is used to ease a queasy stomach and soothe morning sickness, nausea, and other digestive disorders.
That was it! There are eight must-have spices from India that you should incorporate into your routine diet.