Indian Spice Exotica

chillibreeze writer — Shruti Mouli

Spices have been considered aphrodisiacs by many cultures around the world. Their intense flavour is believed to heighten emotions and incite one’s love life. When mulled over, the fact that the great epics and love stories take birth from the land rich in spices is not surprising at all! After all, India is a land of rich culture and heritage complemented by exotic spicy food.

India is known as “The Home of Spices”. There are over 80 kinds of spices grown across the world but India alone grows about 50 types of them. The spices that India offers in abundance are pepper, ginger, turmeric, chilli, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, fennel, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ajwain (bishop's weed), cassia, clove, nutmeg and mace. Interestingly, each of the spice has its own flavour, medicinal value and other interesting facts to go with it. In fact, the very commonly used word ‘AROMA’ is the ancient Greek word for spice.

Spices’ being so versatile in their features are a necessity across the global culinary scene, especially in India. Indians are supposedly one of the warmest, most intense and cultured people. But the question is if we could attribute these qualities to the use of spices? Why not? If spices can influence one’s mind and behaviour, then the populace of the “Home of Spices” can definitely be considered different from the rest.

Some of the Indian Spices, their characteristics and features:

Chilli - Highly flavourful and often very hot. Its intensity can add to yours.
Cinnamon - Cinnamon is the inner bark of an evergreen tree; it is used in both savoury and sweet dishes. Sweet but stimulating, cinnamon increases blood flow.
Clove - An exotic spice to boost your energy. It comes from clove tree buds that are picked green and then dried in the sun until they turn brown.
Coriander - Used in most savoury Indian dishes. The leaf (cilantro) is used as a garnish. Heightens emotions.
Fennel - Fennel seeds used in both savoury and sweet dishes aids in digestion and a great breath freshener!
Ginger - Another flavourful, hot spice that can add a jump to your love life.
Nutmeg - Nutmeg is best when freshly ground. This spice enhances any dish - both sweet and savoury. It’s a spice with a complex aroma that triggers creativity and imagination.
Vanilla - The smell alone increases blood flow.

Indian spices not only add flavour to the food cooked but act as great germ fighters in the body and also are used as preservatives in pickles, sauces etc. Many of them possess medicinal properties and have a profound effect on human health, since they affect many functional processes. For instance, spices intensify salivary flow, they cleanse the oral cavity, they help to check infection and protect the mucous membrane. Spices act as stimuli to the digestive system. Chew on some cardamom, cumin or clove to keep bad breath away! Hail India for its exotic spices! Flavour, medicine, and brain enhancers…all in one! What more could we ask for!

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—About our writer:

Shruti Mouli says,
"Writing and music are two loves of my life - writing has always been a passion and music my friend. A perfect day for me would mean a good book to read,loads of coffee and great music playing along! Also I believe in the intensity with which things are done coz’ that’s what brings about the perfection in a person."

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