2.

Introduction to spices

India is known as the 'The home of spices'. There is no other country in the world that produces as many kinds of spices as India. The climate of the country is suitable for almost all spices. In India, spices are the important commercial crop from the point of view of domestic consumption and export. Spices constitute an important group of agricultural commodities which are virtually indispensable in the culinary art. In India, spices are important commercial crops from the point of view of both domestic consumption and export. Besides, huge quantities of spices are also being consumed within the country for flavouring foods and are also used in medicine, pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetics and several other industries. According to the International Organization For Standardization (ISO); The term 'spices

and condiments' applies to such natural plant or vegetable products or mixtures thereof, in whole or ground form, as are used for imparting flavour, aroma and piquancy to and for seasoning of foods". There are over 80 spices grown in different parts of the world and around 50 spices are grown in India. The spices that India can offer in abundant quantities are pepper, ginger, turmeric,

chilli, cardamom, celery, fenugreek, fennel, cumin, dill, coriander, cinnamon, ajowan (bishop's weed), cassia, clove, nutmeg and mace. Major spices of export are pepper, cumin, cardamom, ginger, turmeric and chillies. Other minor spices include ajowan, aniseed, celery seed, caraway, fennel, fenugreek, coriander, garlic, onion, saffron, vanilla etc. Among the spices exported, pepper has the leading position in terms of both quantity and value realised. The 'Alleppey Green' Cardamom is considered the best grade available in the world. Among the spices exported pepper has the leading position in term of both quantity and value realized. The alleppey green cardamom is considered the best grade available in the world.

2.2

History of spices

The history of Indian spices dates back to 7000 year in the past. The fame of Indian spices is older than the recorded history. It is believed that the Parthian wars were being fought by Rome largely to keep open the trade route to India. It is also said that Indian spices and her famed products were the main lure for crusades and expeditions to the east. The people of those times used spices, as we do today, to enhance or vary the flavor of their foods.

Spices have played a dramatic role in the development of western civilization. Spices today are plentiful and are used mostly as flavorings. However, in ancient and medieval times, they were rare and precious products, used for medicine, perfume, incense, and flavoring.

Spices have been the catalysts of some of the greatest adventures in the human history, like Christopher Columbus, voyage. Still today, spices empower us as explorers, even if we never journey beyond the kitchen counter. They energize our daily adventure in food and remind us of journey to toxic places and favorite meals with loved ones.

Thanks to the vogue of international travel, we can engage in our own spice conquest now. We can stroll through market stalls around the world spices, perfumes, and exotic plants and flowers enchant the sense. And when we take these scents and tastes of far-reaching places back to our home, we are again compelled to discover the allure of the unknown.

2.3 Major Spices grown in India

Asafoeti A popular spice in foods and medicines Cardamom The Queen of all spices Chilli Grown throughout the country and is used in almost all dishes. Cinnamon It is the dried bark of an evergreen busy tree. Cumin It has a particular value in the blending of Indian curry powder. Fennel The dried ripe fruit of a perennial aromatic herbaceous plant. Ginger A major crop cultivated in India marketed as fresh and dried spice. Mustard It is used for its appetising flavour and preservative value Parsley One of the best known and used in culinary spices Pomegranate It is endowed with excellent medicinal properties. Turmeric The spice is quite popular in foreign countries. Bishops Weed A native Indian plant is an aromatic spice. Cassia The dried husk of a small, bushy evergreen tree Clove One of the oldest spices in the world. Coriander The fragrant spice has its own medicinal properties. Fenugreek The ripe, dried fruit of an annual leguminous herb. Garlic It has an attractive flavour and acknowledged medicinal value. Mint Mint is the erec plant with dark green leaves with pleasant flavour

Onion One of the oldest spices known to human race. Pepper The king of all spices and best known in the world Rosemary The spice is quite popular in foreign countries. Vanilla Vanilla is a seed pod of a tropical climbing orchid.

2.3

Spices growing states in India

States Andhra Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh Assam Bihar Gujarat Haryana Himachal Pradesh Jammu & Kashmir

Spices Chilli, ginger, turmeric Ginger, tejpat, turmeric Aniseed, turmeric Avjoin, garlic, turmeric Chilli, cumin, dilseed, fennel, garlic Garlic Ginger Avjoin, saffron, cardamom, chilli, garlic, clove, ginger, pepper, turmeric, vanilla

Karnataka

Cardamom, clove, ginger, pepper, pepper, cinnamon & cassica, mace

Kerala Madhya Pradesh Maharastra Meghalaya Mizoram Orissa Punjab

Turmeric, vanilla Chilli, garlic, ginger Turmeric, chilli, garlic, pomegrated seed Ginger, turmeric Ginger Chilli, garlic, ginger, turmeric Aniseed, celery

Rajasthan Sikkim Tamil Nadu Tripura

Chilli, cumin, coriander, dilseed, garlic, fennel Cardamom, ginger, tejpat Turmeric, vanilla Turmeric, aniseed, celery, chilli, cumin, fennel, garlic

Uttar Pradesh West Bengal

Turmeric Cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric