LETS SPICE IT UP {S-W}
LETS SPICE IT UP {S-W}
SAFFRON
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| SAFFRON |
Saffron is one of the most expensive spices valued for its color, flavour and medicinal properties. Saffron has a spicy, pungent, and bitter flavor with a sharp and penetrating odour.
Medicinal uses:
- Menstrual disorders
- Antispasmodic
- Flatulence
- Sedative
- Fever
- Melancholia
- Enlargement of liver and spleen
- Heal arthritis, impotence and infertility
Culinary Uses :
- Used as a culinary seasoning
- Used to colour cottage cheese, chicken, meat and rice
- Used to colour mayonnaise, liquors and cordials
- Used in breads, cakes, confectioneries
- Speciality in Mughlai dishes.
- Saffron is also used as a perfume in cosmetics
SAGE
Medicinal Uses :
- Used as a mild tonic
- Astringent
- Carminative
- Diaphoretic
- Anti-pyretic
- Sage oil is used in perfumes as a deodorant.
- Has anti-oxidant properties.
- Treat colds, fevers, liver trouble, and epilepsy.
Culinary Uses :
- Used for flavouring meat and fish dishes and for poultry stuffing
- Fresh sage leaves are used in salads and sandwiches.
- Used in many vegetable dishes, especially with beans
SAVORY
Savory is a fragrant herb which belongs to mint family. It has a clean, piney fragrance and peppery flavour.
Medicinal uses:
- Digestive tract tonic
- Antiseptic
- Diarrhea
- Sore throat
- Digestive aid
- Treats gastric problem
- Carminative
Culinary Uses :
- Used in flavouring soups and sauces,
- Used in egg, salad dishes
- To flavour canned meat and poultry dressings.
- Goes well with stews, bean dishes, succotash and cabbage
SESAME SEEDS
Sesame seed is the most commonly produced seed since olden days. It has a nut-like, mild flavour.
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Medicinal uses :
- Used to make mild tonic
- Laxative
- Acne
- Tinnitus
- Dizziness
- Lowers Cholesterol
Culinary Uses :
- Toasted sesame seeds are sprinkled over toasts, biscuits, breads, cakes, salads, stir fries, etc.
- Used in the manufacture of margarine in Europe.
- Used in traditional south-Indian savoury and sweet delicacies.
- Dry, roasted sesame seeds and vegetable oil are ground into a thin light brown color paste known as tahini. Tahini is one of the main ingredients in famous middle-eastern dip, hummus.
- Gomashio, a Japan specialty uses ground sesame seeds.
- Oil extracted from the seeds is one of the most sought after cooking oil in Malaysia, Indonesia and in India.
- Sesame oil is used in Chinese cuisine
STAR ANISE
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| STAR ANISE |
Star anise is the dried fruit of star-shaped pericarp of the fruit of Illicium velum which are harvested just before ripening. This star shaped spice has a powerful and subtle liquorice flavour but more pungent and stronger than anise. It has a bitter taste.
Medicinal Uses :
- Diuretic
- Colic
- Flatulence
- Rheumatism
- Digestive Aid
- Anti-bacterial
- Carminative
- Spasmodic.
Culinary Uses :
- Used in Chinese cuisine.
- Star anise is one of the ingredient in the five-spice powder.
- used to flavour vegetables, meat, and to marinate meat.
- It is used as a condiment for flavouring curries and for pickling.
- Used in bakery products and confectioneries.
- The essential oil of star anise is used to flavour soft drinks and liquors.
TAMARIND
Medicinal Uses :
- Laxative
- Digestive aid
- Wounds
- Sore throat
- Ulcers
- Liver disease
- Treats bile disorders
Culinary Uses :
- It is a component of savory dishes.
- Used as a pickling agent
- Makes certain poisonous yams in Ghana safe for human consumption.
- Used in lentil dishes, curries and chutneys.
- Used to flavour pulse dishes, rice dishes.
- It is an ingredient in sauces.
- It is used as side dishes for pork, poultry and fish.
- Used in manufacturing jams, jellies and fruit drinks.
- It is a vital ingredient in Worcestershire sauce.
- In India, the ground seed is used in cakes.
- Refreshing drinks are made from tamarind syrup in the Middle East.
THYME
Thyme is a popular culinary condiment. Thyme has a subtle, dry aroma and a slightly minty flavour.
Medicinal Uses :
- Thyme oil is used in treatment of bronchitis.
- Anti-spasmodic
- Carminative
- It possesses anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties.
- Treat melancholy
- Reproductive system ailments
- Digestive aid
- Recommended as a cure for a hangover.
Culinary Uses :
- Leaves and thyme sprigs are used in salads as garnishes
- Thyme works well with veal, lamb, beef, poultry, fish, poultry stuffing,
- Used to season sausages, stews, soups and stocks.
- Use to flavour vegetables, cheese, eggs, and rice.
- Its flavor blends well with those of lemon, garlic and basil.
TURMERIC
Turmeric is an ancient spice used as a dye and condiment. The roots are boiled or steamed, dried and ground into powders. It has a slightly bitter,spicy and pungent flavor. It is mildly aromatic.
Medicinal Uses :
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antioxidant
- Lower cholesterol
- Cancer and HIV
- Arthritis
- Anti-septic
- Carminative
- Used to make mild tonics
- Purifies blood
- Used in making Ointments
- Good for skin
Culinary Uses :
- Turmeric is an important ingredient in curry powder.
- It is used extensively in Indian dishes and in Southeast Asian cooking.
- Turmeric is added to mustard blends, mayonnaise and relishes.
- It is used in lentil and meat dishes.
- Turmeric is used to flavour and to colour foodstuffs.
- Turmeric oleo resin is used in brine pickles
- Used in non-alcoholic beverages, gelatin, butter and cheese
- Kills harmful food borne bacteria
VANILLA
Vanilla beans are pleasantly fragrant fruit pods which belongs to orchid family. Vanilla Beans have a sweet, perfumed aroma with a woody or smoky flavour.
Medicinal Uses :
- Aphrodisiac
- Used to reduce fevers,
- Rarely used for any medicinal purposes other than as a pharmaceutical flavouring.
- Used as a subtle component of perfumes
Culinary Uses :
- Used mainly as a flavouring material
- Used in the preparation of ice creams, milk, beverages,
- Used in candies, confectionaries and various bakery items.
- It is used in flavoring most desserts, custard, cake, candy, and pudding.
- Vanilla is also used to enhance the flavor of beverages and sauces.
WASABI
It is one of the expensive crops from Japan. The roots and stems are used as a condiment. Wasabi has a very pungent smell and flavour when made into a paste. It can be used fresh or as a dry powder.
Medicinal Uses :
- Kills harmful food borne bacteria
- Reduces blood pressure
- Kills cancer cells
- Improves bone strength
- Improves liver function
- Detoxifies the body of free radicals
- Improves gut actions
- Naturally Anti-Viral, Anti-Microbial, Anti-Bacterial
- Stimulates the bodies natural immune system
Culinary Uses :
- Used in Japanese dishes such as Sushi, Sushimi and Soba.
- Used with raw fish, as it kills harmful food borne bacterias.
- Ground into a paste for seasoning.
- It can be used to enhance dips, meats and other foods.
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