Indian spices transport you in a wonderfully fragrant and enticing world of aromas, and smells. Spices not only enhance the flavor of food but also have medicinal qualities that help in treating many diseases right from common cold to more serious ones such as arthritis, acne and heart diseases.

Have spices whole, fried, dry roasted or add them in powder form to flavor your food in the beginning or at the end, spices are simply wonderful. Increasingly, even the West is realizing the benefits of spices and has started using them to season their foods.

Indian spices are used in small amounts as they are used to add a subtle flavor and aroma to the meal and not assault the sense of the people who eat the meal. The types of spices and their amount depend on the particular region the dish belongs to. However, some of the most commonly used everyday spices are ? Turmeric, cumin seeds, red chili powder, black mustard seeds, garam masala, anise, mace, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds etc.

Increasingly, common mixtures of common and exotic spices are now available in various Indian spice shops across the world. These pre-packaged spices are a good way to familiarize yourself with these hard to resist ingredients.