Article 36 – The Spices Of India

The Common spices that we use in our kitchen are actually not common when health benefits associated with these are taken into account. Every spice has a very unique taste and completes the dish as only salt cannot do the magic to satisfy our taste buds. Even scientists are now curious to explore the Indian kitchen to find out more health benefits linked with each spice. But consume these in moderation to reap the maximum health benefits, as excess of everything is bad.

Some of them are :

• Turmeric
• Cardamom
• Red chili
• Clove

ROLE OF SPICES IN INDIAN HISTORY:

Indian Food Has Its Taste And Is Famous All Over The World. The Delicious Aroma, Unique Color And Finger-Licking Flavor. All Together Make A Perfect Blend And Are Found In Indian Foods Only .The Secret Of The Delicious Flavor Of Indian Food Is Its Rich Spices That Are Used For Thousands Of Years and Spreading All Over The World. The real amalgamation of spices was done in beginning of 14th century by Mughals; they make delicious foods with perfect blend of different spices. Spices in India were not only used in food, they were used to cure ailments too. They flatter our sense; smell with delicious fragrance, tongue with unique taste and eyes with vibrant colors. At present time, India is one of the largest exporters of spice all over the globe. The environment of India is perfect; heavy humidity, high rainfall, dry and hot weather favors the conditions for growth of different spices. Due to such a huge range of spices like turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, clove, coriander and red chili, the taste of Indian food never changed.

ROLE OF SPICES IN MYTHOLOGY:

Herbs and spices have been used for medicinal purposes and to flavor food since before the written word. Herbs and spices were discovered by explorers, traded and stolen. Basil plants are sometimes grown in the homes of Hindus to bring the family happiness. The word “basil” is derived from the Greek word for “king,” a reference to its royal fragrance. Alexander the Great may have brought basil to Greece, where it was once thought scorpions would breed under pots of the growing herb. Ancient Romans called the herb “basilisks”, a reference to the basilisk, a very fierce and dangerous dragon that could kill a person by looking at him. Eating basil was thought to be a protection from this dragon, as well as a cure for poison. The French call it “herbs royal.”

ROLE OF SPICES IN RITUALS:

Spices have been around in conjunction with human use for millennia, many civilizations in antiquity used a variety of spices for their common qualities. The variety of spices were used for common purposes among the ancient world, and they were also used to create a variety of products designed to enhance or suppress certain sensations. Spices were also associated with certain rituals to perpetuate a superstition, or fulfill a religious obligation, among other things. he ritual use of spices was common in the classical era, in many instances spices were used in oils by soaking them or creating fragrances by burning them. However many of the spices that became common place in the late classical period were spices that were originally from countries outside of Roman territory and acquired through trade .The Jews in Jerusalem had access to spices that originated from India and came by way of the Spice Trade, whether it was due to their position on the Spice Trade route or through access given to them by their connection with the Roman Empire. It was said that Jesus was anointed in an oil of exotic spice from Indian origins called Spikenard, which was proof that the Roman Empire’s Spice Trade established exotic spices as necessary for certain Mediterranean culture’s religious practices.

By

GOKUL, X B

Love Dale Central School