We asked a lot of non-Indian on what comes to their mind when we say India. We also asked Indians living abroad as to what is it that they miss a lot when they are away from India. Both had the same one word answer – Spices. Indian spices to be precise. Statistically there are about 109 variants of spices that are commonly used in an Indian kitchen to accentuate the taste of widely popular Indian dishes. I work with people from different languages, cultures coming from different parts of world. Very recently, I had a chance to talk at length with a lady from Finland, Europe. She told me a lot of things she had heard about India before she finally arrived a week prior. Most prominently remembered were Indian spices. And a lot many that are all praises for Indian spices.
Thanks to the different climates that India is blessed with, the country has become a hub for spices that require various climatic conditions for growth. A total of 8,93,920 tonnes of spices and spice products valued at Rs 14,899.68 crore ($2432.85 million) were exported during 2014-15. This represented 9% increase in volume and 8% in rupees terms; 7% in dollar terms.
In recent years, organic spices have become a vogue with the international market thanks to the growing maturity of the organic industry overseas. This demand has positivity impacted the local farmers who are now encouraged to switch to the traditional method of cultivation. The demand is primarily derived from Europe, USA, Japan & Australia. India has taken a really big leap in the exports of organic spices. The country at present exports around 50 tonnes of different varieties of organic spices.
Thanks to the different climates that India is blessed with, the country has become a hub for spices that require various climatic conditions for growth. A total of 8,93,920 tonnes of spices and spice products valued at Rs 14,899.68 crore ($2432.85 million) were exported during 2014-15. This represented 9% increase in volume and 8% in rupees terms; 7% in dollar terms.
In recent years, organic spices have become a vogue with the international market thanks to the growing maturity of the organic industry overseas. This demand has positivity impacted the local farmers who are now encouraged to switch to the traditional method of cultivation. The demand is primarily derived from Europe, USA, Japan & Australia. India has taken a really big leap in the exports of organic spices. The country at present exports around 50 tonnes of different varieties of organic spices.
Locals
Traditional and medicinal uses of herbs, spices and vegetables are rich in Indian ayurvedic forms of eating, healing and rejuvenation. The commonly used spices in India are Chilli (the most exported spice), turmeric, Asafoetida, Black Cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, black cumin, Indian bay leaf, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cumin and fennel seeds, Fenugreek leaves, Garam Masala, Mustard seeds, saffron, Thymol seeds and many more.
These are not just used for flavoring, but for deodorizing, pungency and ofcourse, colouring in our food preparation. These are rich in antioxidants and initiate antimicrobial activities in the body. Spices are also used as insect repellant in India. I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to put turmeric around some area where there appeared too many ants and they used to vacate the space which reminded me of movies where dacoits used to appear and people used to run anywhere to protect themselves from getting killed.
From general digestion problems to curing sprains, from curing skin diseases to treating diarrhea, from treating throat infections to curing slip disc problems, I have personally been cured by a lot of herbs and spices through different recipes of combination of such ingredients and they work like wonders.
Why Organics?
Very recently, there was a fuss about general chilli powder doing more damage than acting as a antioxidants. Chemical usage has had the most hard hitting impact on the spices. The latest analysis of the Pesticide Residue Research and Analysis Laboratory under Kerala Agricultural University reveals that coriander, dried ginger powder, dried red chilli, cardamom, cumin powder, pickle powder, garam masala, curd chilli, chilli powder, fennel seeds, Kashmiri chilli powder, rasam powder, and curry powder available in the market are laced with toxic chemicals.
The fact that masala powders, spices and red chilli go into most of our dishes and are consumed daily, exposes the magnitude of the threat to public health, says Thomas Biju Mathew, professor in charge of the analysis. Of the 34 items of vegetables that were tested, only curry leaves, green chilli, capsicum, and red amaranthus were found to exceed the EU limits of safety, while only one grape sample tested positive from among 12 fruit items.
All the samples of dried fruits were found to be safe to eat quality. The test results are available on the website kerala.gov.in in the link Reports and Manuals.
Solution?
There are a lot of brands these days that are doing it the right way. Organic spices are being alternately and parallel been made in the context of otherwise damaging spices that are there in our own kitchens. These brands are spread out as small shops in India and are less marketed. Hence, not a lot of attention is paid by the masses however. There are a lot of online players also selling organic spices that allow the next generation to avail the click and shop model for the India’s next generation.
A total of 118 varieties of brands are today even available online at organicshop.in that are certified organic. All the brands that are claiming to sell organics, have to first get their certification in place through repeated testing procedures of samples. It is now on the pure discretion of the consumer to either go the conventional way or the organic, sustainable way of living.
Traditional and medicinal uses of herbs, spices and vegetables are rich in Indian ayurvedic forms of eating, healing and rejuvenation. The commonly used spices in India are Chilli (the most exported spice), turmeric, Asafoetida, Black Cardamom, black pepper, white pepper, black cumin, Indian bay leaf, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cumin and fennel seeds, Fenugreek leaves, Garam Masala, Mustard seeds, saffron, Thymol seeds and many more.
These are not just used for flavoring, but for deodorizing, pungency and ofcourse, colouring in our food preparation. These are rich in antioxidants and initiate antimicrobial activities in the body. Spices are also used as insect repellant in India. I remember when I was a kid, my mom used to put turmeric around some area where there appeared too many ants and they used to vacate the space which reminded me of movies where dacoits used to appear and people used to run anywhere to protect themselves from getting killed.
From general digestion problems to curing sprains, from curing skin diseases to treating diarrhea, from treating throat infections to curing slip disc problems, I have personally been cured by a lot of herbs and spices through different recipes of combination of such ingredients and they work like wonders.
Why Organics?
Very recently, there was a fuss about general chilli powder doing more damage than acting as a antioxidants. Chemical usage has had the most hard hitting impact on the spices. The latest analysis of the Pesticide Residue Research and Analysis Laboratory under Kerala Agricultural University reveals that coriander, dried ginger powder, dried red chilli, cardamom, cumin powder, pickle powder, garam masala, curd chilli, chilli powder, fennel seeds, Kashmiri chilli powder, rasam powder, and curry powder available in the market are laced with toxic chemicals.
The fact that masala powders, spices and red chilli go into most of our dishes and are consumed daily, exposes the magnitude of the threat to public health, says Thomas Biju Mathew, professor in charge of the analysis. Of the 34 items of vegetables that were tested, only curry leaves, green chilli, capsicum, and red amaranthus were found to exceed the EU limits of safety, while only one grape sample tested positive from among 12 fruit items.
All the samples of dried fruits were found to be safe to eat quality. The test results are available on the website kerala.gov.in in the link Reports and Manuals.
Solution?
There are a lot of brands these days that are doing it the right way. Organic spices are being alternately and parallel been made in the context of otherwise damaging spices that are there in our own kitchens. These brands are spread out as small shops in India and are less marketed. Hence, not a lot of attention is paid by the masses however. There are a lot of online players also selling organic spices that allow the next generation to avail the click and shop model for the India’s next generation.
A total of 118 varieties of brands are today even available online at organicshop.in that are certified organic. All the brands that are claiming to sell organics, have to first get their certification in place through repeated testing procedures of samples. It is now on the pure discretion of the consumer to either go the conventional way or the organic, sustainable way of living.