Herbs & Spices
Herbs & Spices have been used in the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years in cooking & for health purposes. In India, varieties of spices are grown across the regions because of different climatic conditions. India produces the maximum varieties in the world & contributes 75% of global production. The fame of Indian spices is older than history. Herbs also play a significant role in the Indian kitchen.
The history of Indian spice is as old as human civilization. The earliest written record of Indian spices is in Vedas. In ancient times spice trade developed throughout the Indian subcontinent by 2000 BCE with cinnamon & black pepper. In the ancient & medieval ages, spices play a significant role in strengthening the economic condition. Competition among giants to control the spice trade led to colonization in India. In the medieval period, The Portuguese, French, and Britishers all establish a monopoly over certain parts of India for the spice trade. This era saw the formation of the East India Company. They ruled India for hundreds of years.
Being one of the highest spice producers, the Indian Government constituted the ‘Spice Board’ on 26th February 1987. It is an autonomous body functioning under The Ministry of Commerce & Industry responsible for the export promotion of the 52 spices & development of Cardamom (Small & Large).
Sesame Seeds
HERBS
Herbs are small plants without a woody stem. Their leaves & seeds are used in our daily cooking or used directly. We Indians are using it since ancient times. Ayurveda is a great example of the use of herbs to treat diseases. After COVID 19, people realized the power of Ayurveda, and people are opting for natural & plant-based treatment instead of western medicine.
We use the herbs in our daily meal preparation & are usually available in our kitchen. Mint leaves, coriander leaves, tulsi, flak seeds, aloe vera, and dill leaves are a few of them.
In a techno-savvy world, we are moving away from nature & there all the complication starts. So, always use locally available herbs and spices that are easily available in the local market and beneficial for your health. So, adopt the natural product and avoid canned food for a healthy lifestyle.