Spices of South Asia
The great spice garden: pepper and cardamom from the Malabar coast, chilli, turmeric and the masalas that hold a thousand kitchens together. 75 spices on EveryMasala so far.
Spice cities, markets and growing areas
Kerala 5Manipur 5Goa 4Nagaland 4Maluku Islands 3Assam 2Bombay 2Calicut 2Himachal Pradesh 2Kochi 2Muziris 2Sikkim 2Alexandria 1Almora 1Arambol 1Azamgarh 1Ballia 1Brahmapur 1Byadgi 1Calcutta 1Chhatrapur 1Coimbatore 1Collinsville 1Darjeeling 1Delhi 1Dhule 1Didwana 1Eau Claire 1Edayur 1Erode 1
Blends of the region
Garam masalaChaat masalaSambar powderPanch phoronGoda masalaRasam powderTandoori masalaPav bhaji masalaBiryani masalaChettinad masala
Countries
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel
The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil
A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 5 moreCinnamon
The dried inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, prized for its sweet warmth and essential oil.Bark · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley
A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green
🇮🇷 Iran and 4 moreSaffronزعفران
The dried crimson stigmas of the autumn-blooming saffron crocus.Stigma · Sharp and pungent · Bitter
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreCardamom
Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaKala masala
A dark roasted spice blend from Maharashtra used for everyday home cooking.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreEast Indian arrowrootകൂവ
A wild South Asian ginger valued for its turmeric-scented foliage and starchy rhizome.Root · Earthy and deep · Herbal and green
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka and 3 moreCeylon cinnamon
The inner bark of a Sri Lankan evergreen tree, prized for its delicate quills.Bark · Sweet and mellow · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaErode TurmericErodu Manjal
A Geographical Indication turmeric from Tamil Nadu with high curcumin content.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇮🇳 IndiaMalabar pepper
A geographically protected black pepper from India's western spice coast.Seed · Sharp and pungent
🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස්
A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreIndian prickly ash
A pungent fruit from a thorny shrub, used for its tingling spice in coastal India and Vietnam.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Numbing and tingling
🇮🇳 IndiaKairकैर
The spicy pink berry and flower bud of a drought-hardy desert bushFruit · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaLakadong turmericShynrai Lakadong (Khasi), Chyrmit Lakadong (Pnar)
A high-curcumin turmeric variety grown organically in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, India.Earthy and deep · Bitter
🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreDalle Khursaniडल्ले खुर्सानी
A round, fiery chilli from the Eastern Himalayas, known for its intense heat and unique shape.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 IndiaKewraकेवड़ा
A fragrant essential oil distilled from the male flowers of the screwpine plant.Resin · Sweet and mellow · Floral and perfumed
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreWild turmericKasthuri Manjal
A South Asian rhizome with a musky scent, used for colouring and skin care.Root · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi
A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇱🇰 Sri LankaThuna pahaතුන පහ
A Sri Lankan unroasted curry powder made from cumin, fennel, and coriander seeds.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇳 China and 4 moreSpearmint
The square-stemmed herb with pointed leaves used for tea and flavouring oil.Leaf
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreGaram masalaगरम मसाला
A ground blend of warm spices from the Indian subcontinent used to finish curries and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent
🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovageлюбисток
A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry powder
A Western adaptation of Indian spice blends for cooking sauces and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreBay leaf
The dried or fresh leaves of the laurel tree, used to infuse depth into slow-cooked dishes.Leaf · Herbal and green · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGhost pepperbhut jolokia
A superhot chili from Northeast India with over one million Scoville units of heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreAsafoetida
A pungent gum-resin from the Ferula plant, used as a garlic and onion substitute in South Asian cooking.Resin · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreThyme
The dried leaves of a Mediterranean mint-family herb, used to perfume stews and baths alike.Leaf · Earthy and deep · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreBlack saltकाला नमक
A kiln-fired rock salt with a sulphurous aroma used in South Asian cooking and Ayurveda.Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart
🇮🇳 IndiaChaat masala
A tangy Indian spice blend for savory snacks and fruit saladsBlend · Sour and tart · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreMustard seed
Tiny seeds from Brassica plants that become a sharp condiment or cooking oil.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 morePanch phoronপাঁচ ফোড়ন
A Bengali blend of five whole seeds used to temper dishesBlend · Bitter · Warm and sweet-spiced
🇮🇳 IndiaTandoori masala
A spice blend for clay-oven cooking in the Indian subcontinentBlend · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 IndiaAmchoorआमचूर
A sour powder made from dried unripe green mangoes, used to add tang to Indian dishes.Seed · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCrushed red pepper
Dried and crushed chilli peppers, often with seeds, used as a spicy condiment.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaVadouvan
A French-Indian spice blend combining dried aromatics with ground seedsWarm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaIdli podiஇட்லிப் பொடி
A coarse South Indian spice mix of roasted lentils and chillies, served with oil or ghee.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇳🇵 Nepal and 1 moreJimbu
A dried wild onion herb from the Himalayas, used to season lentils and meat.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreIndian costusकुष्ठ (kuṣṭha)
The dried root of a Himalayan thistle, used for centuries in perfumes and traditional remedies.Root · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaNaga Mircha
A wrinkled red chilli from Nagaland with extreme heat and a fruity aroma.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreZedoarytemu putih
A bitter rhizome from the ginger family, once common in Austronesian kitchens.Root · Bitter · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaGuntur Sannam
A long, thick-skinned red chilli from Andhra Pradesh known for its heat and colour.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaRamanathapuram Mundu chilli
A round, mild red chilli from Tamil Nadu with a GI tag.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreNaga Morichꠘꠣꠉꠣ ꠝꠞꠤꠌ
A superhot chili cultivar from Northeast India and Bangladesh, known for its blistering heat and ribbed skin.Chilli · Hot and fiery
🇵🇰 Pakistan and 2 moreDundicut
A small, round, dark red chili cultivar from South Asia with moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇮🇳 IndiaByadagi chilliಬ್ಯಾಡಗಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ
A deep red, mild cultivar from Karnataka prized for its colour and oleoresin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇮🇳 India and 5 moreTurmericहल्दी
The dried rhizome of a tropical ginger relative, prized for its golden color and earthy bite.Root · Warm and sweet-spiced · Bitter
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChar magazचार मगज
A blend of four melon seeds used to thicken and enrich dishes in South AsiaSweet and mellow · Earthy and deep
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Panch phoron: Wiki-uk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Ghost pepper: Gannon anjo at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Ceylon cinnamon: NickCT, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Malabar pepper: കാക്കര, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fennel: Elekes Andor, CC BY 4.0, source
- Indian prickly ash: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jimbu: CJoshi0, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Parsley: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Vadouvan: Fornax, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Char magaz: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Turmeric: J.M.Garg, CC BY 3.0, source
- Tandoori masala: Kamava1971, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cinnamon: Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wild turmeric: goldentakin, CC BY 2.0, source
- East Indian arrowroot: Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kewra: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Dalle Khursani: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Asafoetida: Toyah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Curry powder: Slick, CC0, source
- Indian costus: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chaat masala: Khurram Shehzad / Flickr user: Lekum's ( https://www.flickr.com/photos, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lakadong turmeric: Trinity Saioo, CC0, source
- Amchoor: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Naga Morich: Balaram Mahalder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dundicut: Rep07, CC0, source
- Byadagi chilli: Msclrfl22, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Garam masala: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Saffron: Hubertl, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kair: T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cardamom: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Spearmint: Simon Eugster -- Simon 13:07, 2 July 2006 (UTC), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bay leaf: Χρήστης:Andrikkos / The original uploader was Andrikkos at Greek Wikip, Public domain, source
- Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lovage: 4028mdk09, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Thyme: Evan-Amos, CC0, source
- Erode Turmeric: Sivaranjani, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Mustard seed: Pancrat, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Basil: Castielli, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Black salt: Jellyboots ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source