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Indian
Spices & Seeds
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| Spices are common and popular
condiments used in cooking, variety of food delicacies
all over the world. We offer you quality spices
contributing their distinct aroma, taste, flavor
and color to meals. |
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BACKGROUND
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The story of Indian
Spices dates back to 7000 years into
the past. Spice is defined as "a
strongly flavored or aromatic substance
of vegetable origin, obtained from
tropical plants, commonly used as
a condiment". In ancient times,
they were as precious as gold; and
as significant as medicines, preservatives
and perfumes. India - the land of
spices, plays a significant role in
the global spice market.
Spice term was formerly applied also
to pungent or aromatic foods, to ingredients
of incense or perfume and to embalming
agents. Modern usage tends to limit
the term to flavorings used in food
or drinks, although many spices have
additional commercial uses, e.g.,
as ingredients of medicines, perfumes,
incense, and soaps. Aromatically scented
herbal products have been used since
ancient times to flavor food and for
preparing incenses and perfumes.
The very word "Spice" kindles
the taste buds and brings pleasure
to the mind. A well-equipped Indian
kitchen has all major varieties of
spices stocked. Spices in Indian food
are not heavy and although Indian
food is not bland, most Indian dishes
are delicately spiced to enhance the
flavor of the main cooking ingredient.
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IMPORTANCE
OF SPICES
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Spices are indispensable in culinary art,
contributing their distinct aroma, taste,
flavor and color. Some of these spices are
used as appetizers, others as preservatives
and still others are taken as a digestive.
Many of them are rich in medicinal properties
and are used in pharmaceutical, perfumery
and cosmetic products.
Spices are well-known as appetizers and
are considered essential in the culinary
art all over the world. They add tang and
flavor to otherwise insipid foods. Some
of them also possess antioxidant properties,
while others are used as preservatives in
some foods like pickles and chutneys, etc.
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Spices can improve the palatability and
the appeal of dull diets or spoiled food.
Piquant flavors stimulate salivation and
promote digestion. Pungent spices can cause
sweating, which may even cause a cooling
sensation in tropical climates; on the other
hand they can add a sense of inner warmth
when present in cooked foods used in cold
climates
Spice and herbs are good not only for our
taste buds but also for our health. They
supply calcium, iron, vitamin B, vitamin
C, carotene and other antioxidants. For
instance fresh parsley has been linked with
cancer prevention due to its antioxidant
content and spicy food is much more appealing
than a vitamin pill.
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We offer following wide
range of seeds:
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Among one of the first spices used by mankind,
Coriander seeds, is the seed of Coriandrum
sativum, which belongs to the parsley family.
The coriander seeds are almost round in
shape and brown to yellowish red in color.
It is a fragrant spice, with a mild, distinctive
taste. It is widely used as a condiment
in foods, beverages, marinades, desserts
and sweet pastries and American cigarettes.
It is also valued for its medicinal properties.
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Indian Curry Powder is
the exquisite blend of many spices. It is
widely used in the Indian cuisine as well
as in dishes of Southeast Asia. It can be
used as a condiment in dips, marinades and
salads.
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Celery seeds are the
dried fruit of Apium graviolens, which belongs
to the parsley family. The seeds are very
small, oval-shaped and light Green in color.
They have a crisp texture subtle flavour.
The celery seeds was initially used as a
medicine only. Soon it started appearing
in pickling recipes and before long people
started using it more widely in cooking.
Today, celery seeds are extensively used
in foods and beverages.
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An indispensable and
probably the most popular culinary spice
in the world, chilly, has a pungent flavor.
India is the largest exporter of this widely
used spice. We can deliver Chillies ground
from 20,000 SHU to 60,000 SHU and Crushed
Chillies from 5 mm to 8 mm cut.
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Cumin seeds are the seeds
of Cuminum cyminum, which belongs to the
parsley family. It is pale green in color
and elliptical in shape with deep furrows
Cumin seeds has a penetrating flavour and
aroma. Cumin seeds are used commercially
as a principal ingredient in curry powder
and is extensively used in Mexican dishes
and marinades for meats.
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Dill is the dried fruit
of the herb Anethum graveolens, which belongs
to the parsley family. Dill seeds are oval-shaped,
soft and fluffy and has a pungent and aromatic
flavor.
Dill seeds have been used since ancient
times. The Romans actually used them as
a stimulant for gladiators! Today it is
widely used in pickling and in German, Russian,
Scandinavian and Indian dishes, salad dressing,
soup and the preparation of cottage cheese
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Edible
Groundnut (Peanut)
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India and China are the
world's largest producers of groundnut.
The main use of groundnut is as a source
of edible oil. However, high oil and protein
content make it an important food ingredient.
Groundnut is also a valuable source of E,
K and B vitamins.
Groundnut cakes are formed after the oil
is extracted and these are high protein
animal feed. With proper processing, people
also use the cake to make products, such
as biscuits and baby foods. Hence, groundnut
(peanut) is widely used in confectionery
and oil crushing industries.
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Fenugreek seeds are a
dried, ripe seed of the herb Trigonella
foenum - graecum. It is brownish-yellow
in color and is one of the oldest cultivated
medicinal plants.
Fenugreek is primarily used as food, condiment,
medicine, dye and animal feed. It is widely
used as an ingredient in curry powder. It
is also found in pickle mixes, chutneys
and confectionery
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Fennel seeds are the
dried fruit of Foeniculum vulgare, which
belongs to the parsley family. It is oval
in shape and green or yellowish brown in
color. It has a slightly sweet flavour.
Fennel is generally used as a condiment
and culinary spice in food and beverages.
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Sesame Seed is the seed
of Sesamum indicum. It is yellowish, whitish
or black in colour and has a nut-like, mild
flavor.
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It is rich in vitamin
B and is an important nutritional additive
to salads and dressings. It is extensively
used to embellish bakery products such as
sesame seeds on bread, breadsticks, cookies
and candies and as a garnish on pasta and
vegetables. It is also used in curry dishes.
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Natural sesame seed is
cleaned before hulling. Sesame seeds are
hulled in fresh water tanks with no additives
or chemicals. This process implies that
the seeds retain all natural richness and
flavour, while losing its skin. Hulled sesame
seeds enrich bakery and confectionery products.
It is also the basis for creamy sweet wholesome
Tahini.
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Turmeric is the dried
root of Curcuma Longa. It has a tough brown
skin and bright orange flesh.
Turmeric is used extensively in Indian dishes
and is a major ingredient in curry powder.
It is routinely added to mustard blends
and relishes. It has excellent medicinal
properties and is used throughout Asia to
treat stomach and liver ailments and applied
externally to heal sores. Moreover, it is
used as a cosmetic as well as a dye.
India is the world's primary producer of
turmeric. Indian turmeric is considered
to be the best in the world. It is available
in whole or ground (powdered) form.
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