List of Indian spices
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Indian spices include a variety of spices that are grown across the Indian subcontinent (South Asia). With different climates in different parts of the country, India produces a variety of spices, many of which are native to the Subcontinent, while others were imported from similar climates and have since been cultivated locally for centuries.
Spices are typically heated in a pan with ghee or cooking oil before being added to a dish. Lighter spices are added last, and spices with strong flavor should be added first. Curry is not a spice, but a term which refers to any side dish in Indian cuisine. It could be with a gravy base or a dry item. A curry typically contains several spices blended together.
[edit] List of Indian spices
Below is a list of spices and other flavoring substances commonly used in India
| Indian Common Name (All these are Hindi names but written in English). | English Name | Hindi Name (in Devanagari Font) | Tamil name | Malayalam Name | Telugu Name | Kannada Name | Bengali Name | Urdu Name | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrak | Ginger | अद्रक | இஞ்சி | ഇഞ്ചി | అల్లం | ಅಲ್ಲ | আদা | ادرک | Used as fresh and also Dried Powder form, see "Sonth" | |
| Aamchur/Amchoor powder | Sour mango powder | आमचूर / अमचुर | మామిడి చూర్ణము | ಮಾವಿನಕಾಯಿ ಪುಡಿ | آمچور | gives fish curries tartness | ||||
| Achar | [[Indian spice
]] |
अचार | ஊறுகாய் | അച്ചാര് | ఊరగాయ | ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿ | আচার, | اچار | Hundreds of varieties exist. All are interesting. | |
| Ajmud | Celery / radhuni seed | अज्मुद,अज्मोदा | அசம்டவோமன் | వాము | ಅಜಮೊದವೋಮ | রাধুনী(radhuni) | اجمد | |||
| Ajwain | Carom/thyme seed | अज़वाइन | ஓமம் | അയമോദകം | వాము, , યવાનો, जवानो, ਐਜਵਾਇਨ, അയമോദകം | ಓಮ | জোয়ান | اجوائن | ||
| Amla | Indian gooseberry | आँवला | நெல்லிக்காய் | നെല്ലിക്ക | ఉసిరి కాయ / పప్పు | ನೆಲ್ಲಿಕಾಯಿ | আমলকি | آملا | ||
| Anardana | Pomegranate seed | अनारदाना | மாதுளம் விதை | മാതളനാരങ്ങ കുരു/അല്ലി | దానిమ్మ, గింజలు | ದಾಳಿಂಬೆ ಬಿತ್ತು | اناردانا | Dried not fresh. Is ground in Middle East. | ||
| Bazil / Basil | Fresh basil | बाजील | துளசி | തുളസി | ತುಳಸಿ | |||||
| mayur Badam | Almond | बादाम | பாதாம், | ബദാം | బాదాం | ಬಾದಾಮಿ | বাদাম | بادام | ||
| Choti Elaichi | Green cardamom | छोटी इलाइची | ஏலக்காய் | ഏലക്ക | ఏలకులు | ಏಲಕ್ಕಿ | এলাচ | چھوٹی الائچی | Malabar variety is native to Kerala. | |
| Badi Elaichi | Black cardamom | बड़ी इलाइची | கறுப்பு ஏலக்காய் | കറുപ്പ് ഏലക്ക | ಕಱಿಯೇಲಕ್ಕಿ | بڑی الائچی | Very earthy and darkly aromatic. | |||
| Chakra Phool | Star anise | चक्र फूल, बदल फुल | തക്കോലം | అనసపువ్వు | ಚಕ್ರ ಮೊಗ್ಗು /ಹೂವ್ವು | Exotic, chinese influenced flavors | ||||
| Chironji | Charoli | चिरोंजी | సార పప్పు | ಚರೋಳಿ | چرونجی | a type of nut particularly used in making desserts | ||||
| Camiki | Mango extract | कामिकी | ||||||||
| Dalchini | Cinnamon | दालचीनी | லவங்கப்பட்டை | കറുവപ്പട്ട | దాల్చిన చెక్క | ಚಕ್ಕೆ/ದಾಲ್ಚಿನ್ನಿ | দারচিনি darchini' | دارچینی | Grown commercially in Kerala in southern India. Two types, cassia (common) and royal. | |
| Dhania | Coriander seed | धनिया | விதை கொத்தமல்லி | മല്ലി | ధనియాలు | ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಬಿತ್ತು | ধনে dhone | دھنیا | ||
| Garam masala | Spice mixture | गरम मसाला | கரம் மசாலா | ഗരം മസാല | గరం మసాలా | ಗರಂ ಮಸಾಲಾ | গরম মশলা gôrom môshla, | گرم مصالحہ | Blend of 8+ spices. Each family has their own secret recipe. | |
| Gulab Jal | Rose water | गुलाब जल | பன்னீர் | പനിനീര് | పన్నీరు | ಗುಲಾಬಿ ನೀರು | গোলাপ জল golap jôl | عرق گلاب | Flavors desserts. Heavily used in Middle East. | |
| Gur | Jaggery (unrefined sugar) | गुड़ | வெல்லம் (made from sugarcane juice) கருப்பட்டி (made from palm juice) | വെല്ലം | బెల్లము | ಬೆಲ್ಲ | গুড় guṛ, | گڑ | from the sap of the sugarcane or date palm | |
| Haldi | Turmeric | हल्दी | மஞ்சள் | മഞ്ഞള് | పసుపు | ಅರಿಶಿನ/ಹಳದಿ | হলুদ/হলদে holud/holde | ہلدی | Source of "yellow color" in many curries. | |
| Hari dhaniya | Fresh coriander | हरा धनिया | கொத்தமல்லி (இலை) | മല്ലിയില | కొత్తిమీర | ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು | کوتمیر}ھرا دھنیا | Fresh green leaves. AKA Cilantro. | ||
| Harad / hime | Terminalia chebula | हरद | கடுக்காய் | കടുക്ക | కరక చెట్టు, | ಅಳಲೆಕಾಯಿ | ||||
| Hari Mirch | Green chili pepper | हरी मिर्च | பச்சை மிளகாய் | പച്ച മുളക് | పచ్చి మిరపకాయలు | ಹಸಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ | কাঁচা মরিচ kãcha morich, | ہری مرچ | ||
| Dhania powder/ Pisa Dhania | Coriander powder | धनिया पाउडर/पिसा धनिया | கொத்தமல்லி பொடி, தனியா | മല്ലിപ്പൊടി | ధనియాల పొడి, | ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಪುಡಿ | ধনে গুঁড়া | دھنیہ | ||
| Hing | Asafoetida | हींग | பெருங்காயம் | കായം/പെരുംകായം | ఇంగువ | ಇಂಗು | হিং | ہنگ | Intensely aromatic - related to Truffle and Garlic | |
| Imli | Tamarind | इमली | புளி | പുളി/വാളന്പുളി | చింతపండు | ಹುಣಸೆಹಣ್ಣು | তেঁতুল tetul, | املی | Provides tartness in South Indian curries | |
| Jaiphal | Nutmeg | जैफल | ஜாதிக்காய் | ജാതിക്ക | జాజికాయ | ಜಾಕಾಯಿ | জয়ফল | جاۓپھل | Whole nuts last forever. Powder, only a month. | |
| Javitri | Mace | जावित्री | ஜாதிக்காய் | ജാതിപത്രി | జాపత్రి | ಜಾಪಾತ್ರೆ | جاوتری | Mace is outer covering to nutmeg nut. Similar aroma. | ||
| Jeera | Cumin seed | ज़ीरा | சீரகம் | ജീരകം | జీలకర్ర | ಜೀರಿಗೆ | জিরা, | زیرہ | See Kali Jeera. | |
| Jeera Goli | Cumin seed grounded into balls | ज़ीरा गोली | 'జీలకర్ర వుండ' | |||||||
| Jethimadh | Licorice powder | जेठीमध | அதிமதுரம் | యష్టిమధుక్కం | ملہٹی | |||||
| Kachra | Capers | कचरा, कब्र, करेर | கரியல் | మరాఠీ మొగ్గు, ముముదాటు, | ಮರಾಠಿ ಮೊಗ್ಗು | ਕਰਿਆ | کرر | also known as Kabra, Karer in Hindi | ||
| Kadipatta | Curry tree or sweet neem leaf | करीपत्ता / कढ़ीपत्ता | கறிவேப்பிலை | കറിവേപ്പില | కరివేప ఆకు, | ಕಱಿಬೇವೆಲೆ | کریاپات | Cannot retain flavor when dried. Only use fresh. | ||
| Kaju | Cashew nut | काजू | முந்திரி | കശുവണ്ടി/കപ്പലണ്ടി | జీడి పప్పు | ಗೋಡಂಬಿ | কাজুবাদাম, | کاجو | ||
| Kala Namak / Sanchal | Black salt | काला नमक / संचल | ഇന്തുപ്പ് | నల్ల ఉప్పు | ಕಲ್ಲುಪ್ಪು | বিট লবণ | کالا نمک | Rock salt, but with very sulfury smell. | ||
| Kali Elaichi | Black cardamom | काली इलाइची | കറുപ്പ് ഏലക്ക | నల్ల ఏలకులు | الائچیکالی | Earthy, much used in North Indian curries. | ||||
| Kali Mirchi | Black pepper | काली मिर्च | மிளகு | കുരുമുളക് | నల్ల మిరియాలు, | ಮೆಣಸು | গোল মরিচ gol morich, | مرچکالی | Largest producer is the southern Indian state of Kerala. | |
| Kalonji | Nigella seed | कलोंजी | கருப்பு எள் | నల్ల జీలకర్ర, | কালো জিরা kalo jira | کلونجی | ||||
| Kasoori Methi Dried | Fenugreek leaf | कसूरी मेथी | வெந்தய கீரை | ഉലുവ ഇല (ഉണക്കിയത്) | మెంతి ఆకులు, menthi aakulu | قصوری میتھی | ||||
| Katira Goond | Gum tragacanth | कटीरा गोंद | A thickener and coating for desserts | |||||||
| Kebab Cheeni | Allspice | कबाब चीनी | സര്വസുഗന്ധി | কাবাব চিনি kabab chini | کباب چینی | Tastes of Clove + cinnamon + nutmeg + bayleaf | ||||
| Kesar, mayur | Saffron | केसर, जाफरान | குங்குமப்பூ | കുങ്കുമ പുവ് | కుంకుమ పువ్వు, | জাফরান jafran | زعفران | World's most expensive spice. Flavoring for rice. | ||
| Kesar mari mari | Saffron pulp | केसर मिरी मिरी, | குங்குமப்பூ | కుంకుమ పూల పొడి | ಕೇಸರಹೂ | Actually, safflower concentrate | ||||
| Khajur | Dates | खज़ूर, | பேரிச்சை | ഈന്തപ്പഴം/ഈത്തപ്പഴം | ఖర్జూరం | ಈಚಲಹಣ್ಣು | খেজুর | کھجور | ||
| Kokum | Garcinia indica | कोकम, | பேரீச்சம்பழம் | |||||||
| Khus Khus | Poppy seed | खस-खस | கச கசா | കസകസ | గసగసాలు | ಗಸಗಸೆ | পোস্ত দানা posto dana, | خشحش | ||
| Kudampuli | Garcinia gummi-gutta | कोकम | கொறுக்காய்ப்புளி | കുടംപുളി | Used in fish preparations of Kerala | |||||
| Lahsun | Garlic | लहसुन | வெள்ளை பூண்டு | വെളുത്തുള്ളി | వెల్లుల్లి పాయ , vellulli paaya, | ಬೆಳ್ಳುಳ್ಳಿ | রসুন roshun, | لہسن | ||
| Lal Mirchi | Red chili pepper | लाल मिर्च | மிளகாய் வத்தல் | വറ്റല് മുളക്, ഉണക്ക മുളക് | మిరప కాయలు, | ಕೆಂಪು ಒಣಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ | লাল মরিচ lal morich, | لال مرچ | ||
| Lavang | Cloves | लवंग / लौंग | கிராம்பு, லவங்கம் | ഗ്രാമ്പു/കരയാമ്പു | లవంగం | ಲವಂಗ | লং/লবঙ্গ lông/lôbonggo, | لوںگ | Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are largest producers in India. | |
| Kali Mirch | Peppercorns | काली मिर्च | மிளகு | കുരുമുളക് | miriyalu, , మిరియాలు | ಕಱಿಮೆಣಸು | مرچکالی | |||
| Methi leaves | Fenugreek leaf | मेथी पत्ता | வெந்தய கீரை | ഉലുവ ഇല | మెంతి ఆకులు, | ಮೆಂತೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು | মেথি পাতা methi pata, | میتھی | ||
| Methi seeds | Fenugreek seed | मेथी दाना | வெந்தயம் | ഉലുവ | మెంతులు, | ಮೆನ್ತೆಬಿತ್ತು | মেথি methi | |||
| Naaga Keshar | Cinnamon buds | नाग केशर | ||||||||
| Namak | Salt | नमक | உப்பு | ഉപ്പ് | ఉప్పు, uppu | ಉಪ್ಪು | লবণ/নুন lôbon/nun, | نمک | ||
| Nimbu | Lemon / Lime | नींबू | எலுமிச்சை | ചെറുനാരങ്ങ | 'నిమ్మ కాయ', | ನಿಂಬೆಹಣ್ಣು | লেবু , lebu, | لیمو | ||
| Pudina | Mint | पुदीना | புதினா | പുതിന | పుదీన | ಪುದಿನ | পুদিনা | پودینہ | ||
| Pyaz / Kanda | Onion | प्याज / गांडा | பல்லாரி வெங்காயம் | സവാള/വലിയ ഉള്ളി | ఉల్లి పాయ, | ಈರುಳ್ಳಿ/ಉಳ್ಳಾಗಡ್ಡಿ | পেঁয়াজ peaj, | پیاز | ||
| Panch Phoron | पञ्च फोरन | পাঁচ ফোড়ন pãch foṛon | This is a Bengali spice mix that combines aniseed, cumin, fenugreek, mustard and nigella | |||||||
| Pathar Ka Phool | Kalpasi | पत्थर के फूल | கல்பசி | కల్లుపచి, | दगड फुल | پتھر کا پھول | Also known as black stone flower | |||
| Pippali | Long pepper | पिप्पलि | கண்டந்திப்பிலி | പിപ്പലി | అనాసపువ్వు | ಹಿಪ್ಪಲಿ | ||||
| Peeli Mirchi | Yellow pepper | पीली मिर्ची | മഞ്ഞ കാപ്സികം | پیلی مرچ | ||||||
| Rai | Brown mustard seed | राई | கடுகு | കടുക് | ఆవాలు, | ಸಾಸಿವೆ | রাই | رائی | ||
| Ratin jot | Alkanet[disambiguation needed |
रातीं जोट | ||||||||
| Safed Mirchi | White pepper | सफ़ेद मिर्च | வெள்ளை மிளகு | വെള്ള കുരുമുളക് | తెల్ల మిరియాలు, | ಬಿಳಿಮೆಣಸು | سفید مرچ | |||
| Saji na phool | Citric acid | सजी न फूल | ||||||||
| Sarson | Mustard seed | सरसों, | கடுகு | കടുക് | ఆవాలు, సరసావాలు, | ಸಾಸಿವೆ | শরষে, shorshe, | سرسوں | ||
| Sarson Tel | Mustard oil | सरसो तेल | கடுகு எண்ணெய் | കടുകെണ്ണ | ఆవ నూనె | ಸಾಸಿವೆಯೆಣ್ಣೆ | শরষের তেল | سرسوں کا تیل | shorsher tel | |
| Saunf/Sanchal | Fennel seed | सौंफ / संचल | சோம்பு/பெறுஞ்சீரகம் | ജീരകം/പെരുംജീരകം | సోంపు | ಸೊಂಪು | সঁওফ/মৌরি sôof/mouri, | سوںف | ||
| Shahi Jeera | Caraway seeds | शाही जीरा | கருஞ்சீரகம் | കരിഞ്ജീരകം | నల్ల జీలకర్ర, | شاہ زیرہ | smaller in size than regular | |||
| Sirka | Vinegar | सिरका | വിനാഗിരി | সির্কা | سرکہ | |||||
| Soa sag | Dill | सोया साग | சதகுப்பி | శతపుష్పము, వకతరహా తోటకూర , ചതകുപ്പ, | ಸಬ್ಬಸಿಗಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಸಬ್ಬಸಿಗೆ ಬೀಜ | |||||
| Sonth | Dried ginger | सोंठ | சுக்கு | ചുക്ക് | సొంఠి | ಸುಂಟಿ | سونٹھ | mostly powdered | ||
| Suwa or Shopa | Aniseed | सुव्वा / शोप | సోంపు | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸೊಂಪು | ||||||
| Tej Patta | Malabathrum, bay leaf | तेज पत्ता | பட்டை | കറുവാപട്ട ഇല | బిర్యానీ ఆకు | ಮಸಾಲ ಎಲೆ/ಪುಲಾವ್ ಎಲೆ | তেজ পাতা tej pata | تيزپات | Both Malabathrum and Bay Leaf are similar and called as Tej Patta in Hindi. however, they are from two different families with difference in taste | |
| Til | Sesame seed | तिल | எள் | എള്ള് | నువ్వులు | ಎಳ್ಳು | তিল | تل | ||
| Shimla Mirch | Capsicum | शिमला मिर्च | குடை மிளைகாய் | കാപ്സികം | ದಪ್ಪ ಮೆಣಸಿನಯಕಾಯಿ | شملہ مرچ | ||||
| Kali Zeera | Black cumin | काला जीरा | Sweet, floral and smoky cumin and anise-like flavor. | |||||||
| Tulsi | Holy basil | तुलसी | துளசி | തുളസി | తులసి, తులసి ఆకు | ತುಳಸಿ | তুলসী | تلسی |
