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Indian spices are undoubtedly among the most well-known and sought-after oriental flavors and spices in the world. Who among us has never tasted curry, turmeric, or cumin in their life?! Despite the fame of Indian spices, there is a lot of confusion and little information about them. In this article, we want to first introduce you to the best Indian spices in a list accompanied by information, properties, and some recipes, so that you too can become a connoisseur of Indian spices.
Furthermore, since spices from India are among the most famous and sought-after in our online spice shop, within this article you can buy Indian spices online selected from the best producers (including organic ones) and imported directly from the Asian continent. Just click on the links and visit the product pages.
It is impossible to think of the Indian subcontinent without smelling the enchanting aromas of Indian spices. The combination of India and spices is inseparable, just like the presence of the characteristic scents of cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, or curry while strolling through the shops of Indian bazaars. It is said that the colonizers themselves managed to reach the shores of the Indian subcontinent, attracted by the scent of Indian spices spreading throughout the ocean. Indian spices are the basis of Indian cuisine and widely used for their healing properties, through Ayurvedic medicine, a form of medicine considered "unconventional" in the West, but in India it holds a much more important value than traditional medicine. The foundation of this medicine, which extensively uses Indian spices, is the awareness that through a specific lifestyle and proper nutrition, it is absolutely possible to live longer.
Let's get to the point and explore Indian spices in a list created for those who wonder what they are and what their names are. The world of oriental spices has always fascinated us, as they enrich the palate and the mind, so we hope that some information on their use and some curiosities about the history of these Indian spices will be appreciated by our beloved readers. We will start this overview of Indian spices, list and names, starting from the main Indian spices and those that are most commonly used in Italy, so that everyone can become passionate and, why not, successfully use them to enhance their dishes.
Many of these herbs, flavors, and spices are rare and difficult to find. That is why it is always important to remember how to properly store spices! Let's stop chatting and start our journey through the spices from India.
Pepper - or rather peppers, as there are several varieties - was considered by the Romans, already 400 years before the birth of Christ, black gold (forget about oil!!), to the point of using it as a bargaining chip to pay the conqueror Attila and make him desist from the intention of completely destroying Rome.
Currently, India produces over half of the pepper cultivated in the world. Pepper is one of the Indian spices that, along with saffron and long pepper, according to Ayurvedic medicine, form the Trikatu, ideal for facilitating metabolism and improving the food digestion process. Not surprisingly, pepper is often included in weight loss diets and used to combat obesity. Here are some of the main varieties of Indian pepper available on Terza Luna:
Confirming the importance of this Indian spice for the entire economy of the nation, it is enough to think that in Cochin there is still the "Spice Exchange", where the price of pepper is assigned daily, just as in the West we quote our "black gold" oil on the Wall Street market.
From the same plant as pepper, but following different processing methods, white pepper and green pepper are obtained. Pepper is considered one of the oldest Indian spices and was known in Hellenic land as early as the 4th century BC, considering that Hippocrates extolled its effectiveness against menstrual pain when used in combination with vinegar and honey.
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The seeds of cardamom, one of the most well-known Indian spices, are very tasty and used as a base for curry. It should be remembered that before the arrival of the English in the Indian peninsula, the cardamom plant grew wild, and it was only from the 19th century AD that the first plantations began.
Widely used in cooking, cardamom is a spice highly appreciated in medicine as well. The powder of the seeds of this Indian spice, when boiled with tea, is said to have antidepressant qualities. There are two types of this Indian spice: black cardamom, larger in size, used to compose Garam Masala and particularly popular in northern India to season savory foods and flavor lentils, vegetables, and meat. Widely used if chewed a little to improve breath and strengthen gums.
Cardamom is a spice that lends itself very well to the preparation of many dishes and dishes that few still know. For example, the pumpkin and cardamom velouté is a delight to enjoy during autumn and winter.
The same velouté can be used to make a delicious couscous with mushrooms and pumpkin velouté with cardamom that we invite you to try in the autumn season.
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The coriander plant, although very similar in shape to parsley, has a completely different taste. Coriander is one of the Indian spices with a fresh and sweetish flavor more widespread in European cuisines. A key component of curry, coriander is dried and often used in powder form. If used fresh, it is preferred to add it as a seasoning to the sauté, only towards the end of cooking, so as not to burn the leaves and with them its very sweet taste.
Saffron is the most expensive among Indian spices and it is certainly not a coincidence that it is called red gold. The high value of this fantastic spice is widely justified when you consider the number of flowers needed to produce just 100 grams of this Indian spice: a whopping 1500...all rigorously hand-picked!!
Although historically it seems that saffron was brought to India by the Persians in the 6th century B.C., it is believed locally that credit should go to two Sufis, whose tombs are still objects of veneration today. As for the properties of saffron, it is said to help regain lost good mood, as it improves breathing and blood circulation in the body. Widely used in cooking, saffron has a unique flavor capable of enhancing savory dishes, especially risottos, even with just a few stigmas.
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Cumin is one of the most important Indian spices in the cultures of ancient peoples. For the Greeks, for example, cumin was a symbol of both friendship and frugality. For the Egyptians, it was a fundamental component for mummification rituals, while for Arab culture, cumin, combined with honey and pepper, represented a powerful aphrodisiac (Don't miss our special on aphrodisiac plants and herbs). Some of these past cultures' beliefs seem to have been preserved to this day, as Indians still commonly make an energizing drink with cumin, chili, buttermilk, and a pinch of salt, excellent for replenishing minerals and vitamins, especially on hot days. Similar to what happens in Germany with "Kummel," a very popular alcoholic beverage based on cumin.
Highly appreciated by chefs in Northern Europe, cumin is also carving out its privileged space in Italian cuisine. Just be careful not to overdo it, as too much can almost completely "cover" the taste of the whole dish.
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Turmeric is considered a very close cousin of ginger, due to the similarity between their rhizomes. But in terms of color tone, it is much more similar to saffron, so much so that it is often referred to as "Indian Saffron."
Due to this "coloring" characteristic, it was once used by Indian women as a cosmetic. Even today, in the most traditional wedding ceremonies, Indian women are accustomed to sprinkling their faces and upper limbs with turmeric the day before the wedding, and then marking the center of their foreheads with the traditional sindoor. This is because in India, turmeric symbolizes fertility and purity.
This Indian spice boasts significant healing qualities and is widely used in Indian families to improve skin health. Successfully used in cooking both to flavor dishes and to color them and make them more inviting, thanks to its enviable yellow color. One of the most fascinating Indian spices, also because it is a symbol of the offering that Indians make to the serpent deities, very important in Sufi tradition.
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The journey through the flavors and culture of Indian spices ends with turmeric in this small southeast. We hope to have succeeded in arousing your passion or at least your curiosity. For any other questions or to learn about delicious traditional recipes that can be made with these Indian spices, do not hesitate to contact us.
