asianspiceskovalam

Welcome,

The spice of life

Asian Spices Spice Farm is located in the cool mountains in Idukki district which is around 300 KM away from kovalam, the most renowned tourist place in Kerala.The spices with me come directly from the fields. Hence they are fresh. They are processed using only hands and treated well. We adopt only organic farming so they really natural. Thus real and excellent quality spices are available in Kovalam,kerala. As the word of mouth reputation goes, Kerala, the state on the southern littoral of India is the spice garden of the country with its verdant farms capes of pepper, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, turmeric…and a lot more. At Asian Spices farm one finds the perfect conjunction of the miracles of Mother Nature and the traditional wisdom handed down through generations. The farm extending over acres of picturesque hillside stands out with its sunny climate, cool ambience, hospitable neighborhoods and above all with a luxuriant growth of all spices very particular with Kerala. Cradled in the lap of nature, the farm offers any traveler from the hill stations of Munnar and Thekkady a spicy and unforgettable experience, which could be cherished for several years to come. The strict adherence to the organic ways of farming makes the produces of this farm totally safe for consumers. More over, such is the credibility built over generations by this traditional agricultural family well respected by all. At Asian Spices everything comes fresh without losing the natural aroma and flavor. As a practice the farm avoids any interference from middlemen as well. Hence the products are at competitive prices

Black pepper (Piper nigrum)

Pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning .Dried ground pepper is one of the most common spices in European cuisine and its descendants, having been known and prized since antiquity for both its flavour and its use as a medicine. The spiciness of black pepper is due to the chemical piperine. Ground black peppercorn, usually referred to simply as "pepper", may be found on nearly every dinner table in some parts of the world, often alongside table salt.

Long pepper (Piper longum), sometimes called Javanese Long Pepper or Indian Long Pepper, is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. Long pepper is a close relative of the black pepper plant, and has a similar, though generally hotter, taste. Today, long pepper is an extremely rare ingredient in European cuisines, but it can still be found in Indian vegetable pickles, some North African spice mixtures, and in Indonesian and Malaysian cooking. It is readily available at Indian grocery stores, where it is usually labelled "Pipalli."

White pepper is obtained by removing the outer part of the pericarp of the ripened berries. The outer coating is softened either by keeping the berries in moist heaps fir 2 or 3 days or by keeping them in sacks submerged in running water for 7 to 15 days, depending on the region. The softened outer coating is then removed by washing and rubbing or by trampling, and the berries are spread in the sun to dry. Whole white pepper can also be prepared by grinding off the outer coating mechanically. The flavour is less pungent than that of black pepper.

Green pepper are immature berries freeze dried or mechanically air dried. They are available pickled in brine or vinegar

Aroma and Flavour: Black pepper is used in almost all applications where spice is used, with exception of baked goods. It is used universally in sauces, gravies, processed meats, poultry, snack foods etc. Both black and white pepper are used in cuisine worldwide, at all stages of the cooking process and as a table condiment. White pepper has a distinguishably different flavor but is utilized to a lesser extent.

Culinary use: It is used in processed meats and in applications where dark specking is not desired. Black pepper is added to fruit cakes and gingerbread and is also used as a light seasoning on fresh fruit. Black pepper oleoresin is also used for similar purposes.

Medicinal and other use: Black pepper has long been recognized as a stimulant to appetite as well as an aid in the relief of nausea. In India it is being used since time immemorial as a medicine for a number of health problems.

cloves

Culinary Uses

Cloves can easily overpower a dish, particularly when ground, so only a few need be used. Whole cloves are often used to “stud” hams and pork, pushing the tapered end into the meat like a nail. A studded onion is frequently used to impart an elusive character to courts-bouillons, stocks and soups. Cloves are often used to enhance the flavour of game, especially venison, wild boar and hare. They are used in a number of spice mixtures including ras el hanout, curry

powders, mulling spices and pickling spices. Cloves also figure in the flavour of Worcestershire sauce. They enjoy much popularity in North Africa and the Middle East where they are generally used for meat dishes, though rice is often aromatized with a few cloves

Saffron

Kashmir saffron ("Kashmiri Kesar") is considered the best in the world for its distinctive long silky threads with a dark red color, its pleasant aroma and its powerful coloring and flavoring capabilities. No other subsistence or spices can take place of saffron's flavor or aroma in this world.

Our Kashmiri Sun Brand saffron is 100% pure and free from any foreign subsistence, premium quality, sealed in the beautifully designed retail packaging. Our saffron is available fresh, having been harvested.

Vanila pods

There are three main commercial preparations of natural vanilla:

whole pod
powder (ground pods, kept pure or blended with sugar, starch or other
ingredients )
extract
Vanilla flavoring in food may be achieved by adding vanilla extract or by cooking vanilla pods in the liquid preparation. A stronger aroma may be attained if the pods are split in two, exposing more of a pod's surface area to the liquid. In this case, the pods' seeds are mixed into the preparation. Natural vanilla gives a brown or yellow color to preparations, depending on the concentration. Good quality vanilla has a strong aromatic flavor, but food with small amounts of low quality vanilla or artificial vanilla-like flavorings are far more common, since true vanilla is much more expensive.

A major use of vanilla is in flavoring ice cream. The most common flavor of ice cream is vanilla, and thus most people consider it to be the "default" flavor. By analogy, the term "vanilla" is sometimes used as a synonym for "plain". Although vanilla is a prized flavoring agent on its own, it is also used to enhance the flavor of other substances, to which its own flavor is often complementary, such as chocolate, custard, caramel, coffee and others.
The cosmetics industry uses vanilla to make perfume.

Cardamom

Cardamom of commerce is the dried ripe fruit (capsules of cardamom plant) often referred as the “Queen of Spices” because of its very pleasant aroma and taste. The major use is for the preparation of ‘gahwa’ – a strong cardamom coffee concoction which is a symbol for hospitality among Arabs. Apart from this cardamom is widely used as a flavouring material in whole and ground form. In Asia, it can add a lingering sparkle to every kind of dishes both traditional and modern. In Scandinavian countries it is used in baked goods and confectionaries. In Europe and North America it is an ingredient in curry powder and in some sausages products.

Cardamom oil and oleoresin has applications in flavouring processed foods, cordials, and liquors and in perfumery and in Ayurvedic medicines.

Turmeric

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Turmeric is used extensively in the East and Middle East as a condiment and culinary dye. In India it is used to tint many sweet dishes. Apart from its wide use in Moroccan cuisine to spice meat, particularly lamb, and vegetables, its principal place is in curries and curry powders. It is used in many fish curries, possibly because it successfully masks fishy odours. When used in curry powders, it is usually one of the main ingredients, providing the associated yellow colourTurmeric is a mild digestive, being aromatic, a stimulant and a carminative. An ointment base on the spice is used as an antiseptic in Malaysia. Turmeric water is an Asian cosmetic applied to impart a golden glow to the complexion. Curcumin has been shown to be active against Staphlococcus aureus (pus-producing infections

Curry leaves

Curry leaves are as important to Asian food as bay leaves are to European food, but never try to substitute one for the other. Curry leaves, either fresh or dried, are usually the first ingredient added to the small amount of oil in which a dish is to be cooked, and the fragrance and flavour are unmistakable

Red chilly

Red chilly is known for its healing and digestive properties and can be used in various forms like powder or cracked, and can also be crushed to form flakes and used as a dressing. Red chilly is hot, sharp and stimulating it has a pungent smell that irritates sometimes. It is widely used in preparation of snacks and sometimes used for garnishing. The red chilies that we provide are mature pods and have larger seeds, more spicy and sharp due to expert cultivation methods.

Cashew nuts

are a a delicious snack that are good for you. They contain healthy mono-unsaturated fats, magnesium, and copper which help prevent heart disease, promote strong bones, and give you energy. Eating cashews may also reduce your risk of getting Colon Cancer. Olympic Gold runner Kelly Holmes revealed to the BBC that cashews were the secret to her success. Learn how you can improve your health by eating cashews.

Pappadam

Also spelled poppadum, paparh, papad. Lentil wafers with varying degrees of spiciness, sold dried in packets. They have to be deep fried for a few seconds before serving. The oil should be hot enough so they more than double in size immediately and become crisp and light, not leathery and oil sodden. Some varieties with a smooth or shiny surface cook successfully in the microwave oven or under the grill. If the pappadams are covered in a fine flour they need to be deep fried or at least brushed with oil before grilling.

Jaggery

It has a sweet, winey fragrance and flavor that lends distinction to whatever food it embellishes. Jaggery is considered as a wholesome sugar and unlike refined sugar retains more mineral salts making it much healthier. Moreover, the process is natural without the use of chemicals. It is medicinally considered to be much safer and is beneficial in treating throat and lung infections.

Jaggery is used as an ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes across India and Sri Lanka. It is also a delicacy in its own right. The great Indian chef and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey writes about a jaggery board , like a cheese board, as a type of dessert course in a Bengali dinner, with varieties of palm and sugar cane jaggeries offered, differing in taste, color, and solidity. Jaggery is also molded into novelty shapes as a type of candy . Other uses of jaggery include jaggery toffees and jaggery cake made with pumpkin preserve,.

CINNAMON

Cinnamon is a tree which grows to a height of 10 meters. The dried bark is harvested by collecting in quills which can be ground into powder. Cinnamon is used in curries, biriyanis, kurmas, etc.

t is a common ingredient in toothpaste, mouth washes and chewing gum as it strengthens and cleans teeth with its antibacterial qualities. It is used for diarrhea and other problems of digestive problems.Cinnamon are also used as an insect repellent. It is also used as a pain reliever because of its health-boosting compounds. Cinnamon also provides calcium and fiber to our body. It is also useful

CORIANDER

It is used in the preparation of Garam masala and numerous spicy dishes. Coriander coffee is very famous in kerala. Coriander leaf is used as an alternative for curry leaf in the northern parts of India.Coriander is to improve gastrointestinal conditions and as an appetite stimulant and antispasmodic. Coriander has also been used to treat impotence, rheumatism, pain, vomiting, cough, hepatitis C, fever, sore throat, goiter, migraines, and menstrual disorders, eye problems blood impurities, parasitic worms, skin conditions, kidney disorders, mouth ulcers, oral inflammation and high cholesterol. It has also been used to improve vitality and memory. Coriander juice has been used to treat nausea and morning sickness, colitis and liver disorders.

DRY GINGER

Ginger is a root that can be sold fresh or dry. Dry ginger must be bruised firmly with a hammer to break up the fibers. Alternatively, dry ginger powder is also used. It can be used t as a medicine, to add flavor to dishes etc. Ginger coffee is aloso available here. Dry Ginger Coffee is popular South Indian specialty coffee. We make this particularly on rainy days, the healthiest coffee we can say...This wonder root (DRY GINGER) has lots of health benefits and used as a good remedy for indigestion, nasal congestion s, cold, sore throat, and cough, fever etc. In Ayurveda, Dry Ginger plays a major role because of its goodness and digestive properties.

FENU GREEK

This plant belongs to the bean family .It gives a tangy taste to pickles, chutney and curry. Ground fenugreek (seeds) has a warm, yellowish-brown color with a strong curry-like taste. In powdered form, fenugreek is one of the main ingredients of curry powders. Fenugreek is used to add flavor to meat dishes. It is mainly used for seasoning and preparing Masalas. It also has medicinal uses. Fenugreek seed tea is good for increasing breast milk. It also helpful for treating diabetes and lowering cholesterol.

MUSTARD SEEDS

There are 3 types of mustard black, brown and white. It is used for tempering in both vegetarian and non vegetarian South Indian cuisines. The use of mustard is helpful to reduce the severity of asthma, to lower high blood pressure, to restore normal sleep patterns in women having difficulty with the symptoms of menopause, to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, and to prevent heart attack in patients suffering from atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease.

NUTMEG

In India nutmeg is important for seasoning meat. We give nut meg with shell because it can be kept for a longer time in your home. At the time of using it you can take it one by one and crack gently to get the nut meg. Medically, nutmeg has strong antibacterial properties. It is effective in killing a number of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. Nutmeg contains eugenol, a compound that may benefit the heart. It is used in small dosages to reduce flatulence [excessive stomach or intestinal gas], aid digestion and improve appetite.

STAR ANISE

Especially associated with Chinese food, it is the dried fruit of a tree of the Mangolia family, Excellent in soups and with mussels and oysters. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of star anise are useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and dry cough. For this reason,

some cough mixtures contain star anise extract. Star anise can also be used as for its sedating properties to ensure a good sleep. The oil of star anise is useful in providing relief from rheumatism and lower back pain. Star anise can also be used as a natural breath freshener. Shikimic acid, a compound present in star anise is used for preparing drug for curing influenza or the flu virus. Linalool, a compound present in star anise contains anti-oxidants properties that are very good for one's overall health.

TAMARIND

This is used mainly in fish curries to get a sour taste. It is also used to prepare a special curry by name sambar by Keralities. Tamarind is of two types; black and brown. Black tamarind is used in south india and the brown tamarind is used by north Indians. One of the health benefits of tamarind is that the dietary fiber obtained from this herb is beneficial to naturally treat digestive problems such as loose motions and also for the prevention of constipation as the fiber tends to add bulk and which is required for healthy bowel movements. This fiber also helps in binding together any toxins that may be present in the food and thus protects the mucus membrane of the colon from chemicals that cause cancer

ANISEED

Aniseed is a small plant, 1 meter high, native of the Middle East. But well established in India and used to season fish curries and marindes. This seed should be lightly roasted dry in a frying pan to bring out full flavor. Anised is of the parsley family and used in Europe in bread, biscuits and cake.

Flatulence and indigestion can be relieved effectively with aniseed. Cataracts patients can be given great relief when treated with aniseed. For this cure, 6 grams of spice is to be taken every morning and evening. Aniseed tea is extremely beneficial in the treatment of sleeplessness, if taken after meals or before going to bed. Aniseed has excellent expectorative properties, and hence it is good for the treatment of cough, as well as for asthma.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Welcome to the wonder world of real spices!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Spices list