No other country grows and consumes as many spices as India. With a wide range of climates and topography, the Indian subcontinent has been in the limelight for its spices, fabrics, and luxury goods, which established international trade with many countries with beginnings from the East India Company in the 1,700s. India is one of the largest producers of spices with about 75 varieties out of the 109 listed by the International Organization for Standardization. In terms of production volume,
leads the country.
One of the essentials of an Indian kitchen is the “masala dabba”- a traditional spice box. It typically consists of small cups (usually five or seven) containing spices that are used in daily cooking. Whether it’s a soupy south Indian Rasam, a snack time Gujarati Dhokla, a sumptuous dessert in the Bengali Mishti Doi, or the traditional tea in the Kashmiri Kahwa. Spices are generally expensive when compared to other
agricultural products. Saffron remains the most expensive spice. After Iran, India is the world’s leading producer of coveted spice.
Export and import of spices
Indian spices are highly sought-after globally. Moreover, the growth in the country’s overall
merchandise exports and spice exports showed a significant increase during the same year. The
United States was the leading importer of Indian spices at a value of over 42 billion Indian rupees. Even as one of the
leading exporters of spices, India imports certain spices, such as Asefotieda or hing. Hing, an essential ingredient in traditional cuisines, was imported from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, and Uzbekistan. Recently, India started the cultivation of this spice variety, and if successful, this spice will be another feather in the cap of the country.
Health benefits of spices
Spices are valued not only as a flavoring agent but also for their medicinal properties. Traditionally, spices such as turmeric,
pepper, cinnamon, and ginger, to name a few, have been used in ayurvedic medicines along with various medicinal herbs and roots. Unsurprisingly,
turmeric used in most Indian cooking consists of curcumin which has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric milk also known as haldi doodh or golden milk offers fast relief for a variety of health problems. In addition to giving food color and flavor, turmeric is also essential in various religious and cultural traditions.
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