In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices are sometimes used in medicine, religious rituals, cosmetics, or perfume production. For example, vanilla is commonly used as an ingredient in fragrance manufacturing. Plant-based sweeteners such as sugar are not considered spices.
Spices may be used fresh and whole, after drying, grating, chopping, crushing, or grinding, or by extraction into a tincture. Such processing may happen before a spice is offered for sale, while preparing a dish in a kitchen, or after a dish has been presented for consumption (such as peppercorns ground at the table as a condiment). Some spices such as turmeric are seldom available either fresh or whole and so must be purchased in ground form. Small seeds such as fennel or mustard may be used either whole or in powdered form.
Chili powder is a spice blend made from ground dried chili peppers, combined with other herbs and spices. The specific ingredients and heat level can vary depending on the blend and the region where it's produced. Here are some key points about chili powder and its potential benefits:
Some studies suggest that capsaicin may help increase metabolism, leading to potential weight loss. However, the effects are generally modest.
"Red Onion powder, a spice made from ground dehydrated red onions is used for seasoning in cooking. Red Onion Powder is 100% dehydrated, ground red onion, concentrated into an easy-to-use powder which will add zing and colour to all your cooking. Made from finest quality dehydrated Red onions."
White onions are super-healthy with vitamin-c, flavonoids, and phytonutrients. Among other Allium vegetables, onions are healthier. Intake of white onion is good in taste but also loaded with innumerable health benefits. It reduces the risk of cancer with the help of flavonoids present in it. The richness in antioxidant properties helps to treat cardiovascular diseases, heart problems and improves gut health.
Garlic powder is a spice that is derived from dehydrated garlic and used in cooking for flavour enhancement. The process of making garlic powder includes drying and dehydrating the vegetable, then powdering it through machinery or home-based appliances depending on the scale of production.
"Turmeric is a common spice and a major ingredient in curry powder. Curcumin is a major component of turmeric, and the activities of turmeric are commonly attributed to curcuminoids (curcumin and closely related substances). Curcumin gives turmeric its yellow color."
Turmeric or Curcuma longa, is a flowering plant in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. It is a perennial, rhizomatous, herbaceous plant native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia that requires temperatures between 20 and 30 °C and high annual rainfall to thrive.