Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is a commodity that is highly valued in international markets for its aroma, pungency and high oil and Aleo resin content. Nigeria is the third largest exporter of ginger in the world after China and India. Most of the dried ginger that are available for international trade are simply sun dried over a few days, but artificial drying is also used in areas lacking a defined dry season to coincide with the harvest. The rhizome is dried to 10-12 percent moisture content. Dried ginger is usually presented in a split or sliced form. Splitting is said to be preferred to slicing, as slicing loses more flavor, but the sliced are easier to grind and this is the predominant form of dried ginger currently in the market
Nutmeg Myristica fragrans Fam: Myristicaceae The nutmeg tree is a large evergreen native to the Moluccas (the Spice Islands) and is now cultivated in the West Indies. It produces two spices — mace and nutmeg. Nutmeg is the seed kernel inside the fruit and mace is the lacy covering (aril) on the kernel. The Arabs were the exclusive importers of the spice to Europe up until 1512, when Vasco de Gama reached the Moloccas and claimed the islands for Portugal. To preserve their new monopoly, the Portuguese (and from 1602, the Dutch) restricted the trees to the islands of Banda and Amboina. The Dutch were especially cautious, since the part of the fruit used as a spice is also the seed, so that anyone with the spice could propagate it. To protect against this, the Dutch bathed the seeds in lime, which would prevent them from growing. This plan was thwarted however, by fruit pigeons who carried the fruit to other islands, before it was harvested, scattering the seeds. The Dutch sent out search and destroy crews to control the spread and when there was an abundant harvest, they even burned nutmeg to keep its supply under control. Despite these precautions, the French, led by Pierre Poivre (Peter Piper) smuggled nutmeg seeds and clove seedlings to start a plantation on the island of Mauritius, off the east coast of Africa, near Madagascar. In 1796 the British took over the Moloccas and spread the cultivation to other East Indian islands and then to the Caribbean. Nutmeg was so successful in Grenada it now calls itself the Nutmeg Island, designing its flag in the green, yellow and red colours of nutmeg and including a graphic image of nutmeg in one corner. Spice Description The nutmeg seed is encased in a mottled yellow, edible fruit, the approximate size and shape of a small peach. The fruit splits in half to reveal a net-like, bright red covering over the seed. This is the aril which is collected, dried and sold as mace. Under the aril is a dark shiny nut-like pit, and inside that is the oval shaped seed which is the nutmeg. Nutmegs are usually sold without the mace or hard shell. They are oval, about 25 mm (1 in) in length, lightly wrinkled and dark brown on the outside, lighter brown on the inside. Nutmeg is sold whole or ground, and is labeled as ‘East Indian’ or ‘West Indian’ indicating its source. Whole nutmeg may be coated with lime to protect against insects and fungus, though this practice is giving way to other forms of fumigation. Bouquet:sweet, aromatic and nutty Flavour : Nutty , warm and slightly sweet Hotness Scale: 1
Vanilla Beans Long coveted for its delicious flavor and tantalizing scent, vanilla beans. Indian vanilla beans are sweet, creamy and extremely aromatic. Many will contest that the sweet woodsy flavor profile of these beans are superior to that of the Madagascar variety. Indian Vanilla Beans can be used in many of the same applications where Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans are used. Grade B Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans (also called extract beans) contain significantly less moisture and are less attractive. They are smaller and contain many imperfections (splits and cracks), unlike our premium Grade A beans. Don't worry though, because the flavor isn't in the appearance. These beans will work just fine in your homemade vanilla extract, but are not ideal for baking or cooking with.
Bengal Gram Split / Chana dal is chickpea that has been hulled and split in half. It is a popular pulse in many cultures around the world, and India is a major exporter of this commodity. Indian chana dal is known for its high quality, purity, and rich yellow colour. It is also a good source of protein, fibre, iron and other essential nutrients. Chana dal is a small, yellow lentil with a smooth, shiny skin. It has a soft, creamy texture when cooked and has a mild, nutty flavour. One cup of cooked chana dal contains approximately: 15 grams of protein 15 grams of fiber 7 milligrams of iron 422 milligrams of potassium 100 milligrams of magnesium
Botanical Name: Piper nigrum Plant Family: Piperaceae Country of Origin: India Plant Part: White Peppercorns Growth Method: Wild Harvest Extraction Method: Steam Distillation Color: Clear Consistency: Thin Strength of Aroma: Medium Pepper is a perennial vine of the Piperaceae family indigenous to the Malbar coast of India. It is now cultivated in most tropical parts of the world. Pepper bears clusters of small flowers and small spherical fruits that turn red when they ripen. The berry-like fruits eventually become the peppercorns, and each one bears a single seed. The hot spice of White Pepper is made from its berries. It is the fully mature fruits from which the soft, fleshy outer layers had been ground off before drying. The berries of the pepper plant are called peppercorns and these plants are native to southern Asia. This plant was the main spice the European explorers were looking for when they discovered the New World. It still accounts for one fourth of the spice trade in the world. Did you know that white and black pepper come from the same plant? The white variety is allowed to fully ripen on the vine, as opposed to the black peppercorns, which is why it costs a bit more. The skins are peeled off and the inside of the peppercorn is white. White peppercorns have an earthy flavor whereas black peppercorns simply give heat to a dish. The white ones are popular in Mexican, Indian, and Asian dishes, perhaps because a lot of these recipes are spicy and earthy already and the white pepper complements the overall flavor of the dish. If you want to use white pepper, it is best to buy whole peppercorns because the flavor is longer lasting. Peppercorns start to lose their potency when you grind them, which is why freshly ground pepper is usually recommended.