The rich history of Indian spices
India is known for food, and its taste is famous all over the world. The delicious aroma, great taste, distinctive color and succulent flavors have found a permanent place in millions of hearts.
When it comes to the history of Indian spices, it is as distinct and as unique as its taste. Experts estimate that from as far as 50,000 B.C., humans used aromatic plants to help flavor their food.
The primitive man not only used spices to make their food taste better, but also to heal various ailments. Centuries before Greek and Roman civilizations came into being ships carrying Indian spices and perfumes to Mesopotamia, Arabia and Egypt. These spices were the reason that brought many seafarers to the shores of India.
Between the 7th and 15th centuries, Arab merchants supplied Indian spices to the west. However, they kept their source a closely guarded secret for a long time.
When the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama returned from his voyage to India, he took back a cargo of nutmegs, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and peppercorns. The demand for spices back then was so much that they were considered more valuable than gold.
Arab merchants controlled the spice trade for almost 5000 years until European explorers discovered a sea route to India and other spice producing countries in the East.
The demand for spices led to wars, treaties, and maritime discoveries. Some theories also suggest that the Parthian wars were fought mainly by the Romans to ensure that the trade route to India remained open to them.
As long ago as 3500 BC the ancient Egyptians were using spices for flavoring food and in cosmetics. They also used thyme, lavender, peppermint, cedar, rose, almond oil, and aloe for embalming their dead.
In the middle ages, spices were the single most force driving the world’s economy. During this age, a pound of ginger was worth a sheep; a pound of mace was worth three sheep or half a cow, and a sack of pepper was said to be worth a man’s life!
Back then, when there was a lack of refrigeration facilities which meant that food used to get spoiled easily.
Spices acted as a natural preservative and, prevented the food from being spoilt. They have the unique quality to slow down the growth of bacteria in foods which is a crucial step in the preservation process.
In ancient times, people used to grind spices in mortar and pestle to give a unique flavour to food.
Ayurveda also mentions the use of clove. Spices like ginger, turmeric, and fenugreek were used as medicines to treat various diseases from ancient times.
Ginger cured indigestion; turmeric in treating stomach ulcers and gave glowing skin and pepper provided anti-inflammatory properties.
Today, procuring spices from any part of the world is not as dangerous as it used to be. However, their allure remains the same. Best spice exporter in india exports their products through their organizations or through exporting houses.
Pepper, ginger, and turmeric from India is now the base of several south Asian dishes. Undoubtedly, our cuisine is the real amalgamation of spices.
Currently, India is one of the largest exporters of spices all over the globe. Thanks to this leading spice manufacturers and exporters.
Masala that are not only accepted and appreciated by millions of homes across India, but also across the world for the past five decades.
Now that you know the rich history of our spices take a pause and think about the exciting journey they have covered before finding a place in your kitchen.
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