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Black cumin can refer to the seeds of two quite different plants, both of which are used as spices. It is not at all similar to normal...

Star anise (also known as (badain anise), when whole, is an eight-pointed star shape around the size of a small broad bean and is mid to...

Background and origin Green cardamom, like the black variety, is part of the ginger family. The green cardamom plant, elettaria, is also...

Bay leaves come from the laurel tree and are used as a herb in cooking. They are dried for this purpose. The leaves are oval, pointed and...

From the Cori plant that is native to the Mediterranean.  Both the seeds and the leaves are used for cooking but each have different...

Red chilli peppers are popular as a cooking ingredient and give a hot flavour to dishes. However, they also have several applications for...

Coriander (Known as Cilantro in the USA) From the Cori plant that is native to the Mediterranean. We have already covered the seeds and...

Ajwain, also known as carom, ajowan, omam, omum, ajvain or Bishop’s weed (depending on where in the world we’re talking) is a spice...

Fenugreek is cultivated worldwide and its seeds and leaves are common ingredients in dishes all across the Indian Subcontinent where it...

Saffron is golden orange in colour and consists of small, fine threads which is used as a seasoning and colouring agent in many foods,...

Garlic is probably the most popular spice not only in Indian cooking, but in cuisines all over the world.  It is estimated that 90% of...

Asafoetida (also known as hing) is a gum from the resin of a variety of giant fennel with a strong overly ripe garlic type smell. It...

Turmeric is part of the ginger family and like ginger, it is a rhizome; a horizontal stem of a plant that grows underground. Generally...

Ginger is a rhizome – a horizontal stem of a plant found underground and usually has roots and shoots. Ginger is native to India which...

A clove is an aromatic dried flower bud from the Myrtaceae tree which is native to Indonesia. Cloves can be used whole or ground. Whole...

The cardamom plant which produces both the black and green cardamom seeds used in cooking is closely related to the ginger family. The...

Garam from garam (“hot”) and masala (a mixture of spices) Garam masala has been part of Indian cuisine for centuries, as well as crossing...

Gram flour, sometimes know as Besan, is a flour made from chickpeas. Dried chickpeas are ground down to make the flour. Different...