Indian spices were the driving force behind the rise of British Empire and discovery of America. Indian spices are as diverse and colorful as the people of India. If you enter an Indian kitchen, the aroma of the spices will make you crave for the delicious food. In addition to the color and flavor, each Indian spice has a unique value and health benefits. Some of the popular spices are cumin seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, chilies, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander-cumin powder, cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, fenugreek seeds, asafoetida, carom seeds, fennel seeds, tamarind, jaggery, saffron. Most of these are dry spices in whole or powdered form.
There are also fresh ingredients which add spice and essence to Indian cooking - garlic, onion, ginger, green chilies, cilantro, curry leaves, coconut, mint, etc. Nuts like cashews, almonds, raisins, peanuts, pistachios are used more often to make sweets and desserts, but also in curries to add richness. Curry powder and garam masala are the most popular terms for Indian spices for people not familiar with Indian cooking. Both of these are mixes of some of the spices mentioned above.
