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EveryMasala

Ayurveda and traditional medicine: spices in ritual

Spices as the traditional medicine chest: described as tradition, never as medical advice.

Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine from India, in which spices are described as part of the daily diet and in classical texts. This page describes the tradition and does not give medical advice.

What the tradition says

Ayurvedic texts, such as the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, describe foods and plants by taste, called rasa, and by qualities such as warming or cooling. Practitioners describe turmeric, ginger, cumin, coriander, fennel, black pepper and cardamom as everyday kitchen spices, used in line with a person's constitution, as the tradition understands it.

Foods and blends

Traditional preparations include trikatu, a mixture of dried ginger, black pepper and long pepper, and triphala, a fruit blend. Golden milk with turmeric and kitchari, a rice and lentil dish with spices, are popular. These are described as traditional preparations.

A caution

Traditional use is not proof of benefit or safety. Spices in large or concentrated amounts can interact with medicines or affect conditions. Anyone with a health concern, who is pregnant, or who takes medicine should ask a qualified health professional.

Ayurveda and traditional medicine on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

PartSeedBarkRootFlowerFruitChilliLeafResinBulbStigmaBlendPasteSeasoning
FlavourHot and fieryWarm and sweet-spicedSweet and mellowEarthy and deepCitrus and brightSharp and pungentSmokyFloral and perfumedBitterAnise and liquoriceSour and tartSavoury and umamiNumbing and tinglingHerbal and green
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperSnacks and tea timeDrinksDesserts and sweetsStreet foodPickles and preservesFeasts and banquets
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 4 moreFennel The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Sweet and mellow 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 2 moreCardamom Aromatic seeds from spindle-shaped pods used in sweet and savory dishes across Asia and the Middle East.Seed 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreCumin The dried seed of a small parsley-family herb, used whole or ground in many world cuisines.Seed 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Earthy and deep 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreFenugreek丨賱亘丞 (hilba) The cuboid seed of an annual legume, prized for its bitter warmth and maple aroma.Seed 路 Bitter 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 馃嚜馃嚬 Ethiopia and 4 moreKorarima The dried seeds of a wild ginger relative, essential to Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking.Seed 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 路 Citrus and bright 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 1 moreGarden cress A fast-growing edible herb with peppery leaves and seeds used in salads and traditional medicine.Leaf 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Sour and tart

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

The weekly digest

Every Monday: seven spices you may not know, what is cooking this week, and one blend explained step by step.