Your Guide to Purchase Premium Quality Asian Spices

 

Spices have forever been an integral part of the Asian cuisine. The main difference between the flavours and aroma of the dishes of Asian cuisine and other cuisines is the extensive use of spices in the latter. The production and consumption of most spices are in Asian countries. Here is a list of some common spices available at Spice Village Supermarket an online Asian shop, that are used in the Asian cuisine and their largest producers:

1. Ginger- India
2. Turmeric- Indian 
3. Pepper- India
4. Cumin- India
5. Vanilla- Indonesia
6. Nutmeg- Indonesia
7. Cinnamon- Indonesia
8. Cloves- Indonesia
9. Pepper- Vietnam

Asian cuisine consists of dishes loaded with spices. These dishes mostly belong to the Indian and Thai cuisine. The love for spiced up food that the Asians have is clearly visible from the street food sold all over Asia. Each Asian country has its own cuisine and distinctive flavour and aroma because of the spice combinations added to them. 

Indian cuisine is a blend of various vegetables cooked in oil or ghee and zinged up with spices and herbs. Most Indian dishes are served with a side of roti, an Indian flat bread, or rice. The cooking of the masala or the blend of spices before adding them to the vegetables enhances the flavours and aroma of the spices. 

People all over the world love and adore the Asian cuisine which has led to the opening of more and more Asian restaurants and supermarkets in various countries. Spice Village is an online Asian shop in Germany, that sells authentic and organic Asian ingredients and products. This has allowed people in Germany to experiment with the Asian cuisine at the comfort of their home. 

Here are something one should know about common Asian spices and herbs before purchasing them: 

1. Chilies: Known for its hotness this herb is commonly used in Korean and Indian cooking. To reduce the spiciness of chilies one can remove the inner layer and seeds of the herb. Indians are known to consume green chilies as a side dish with their meals.
    
2. Chives: The ones available in the market are European chives but in Asian cooking Chinese Chives are preferred. Freshly bought and freshly chopped Chinese chives are added to stir fry dishes and spring rolls for freshness and a unique flavour.
3. Cinnamon: Grown majorly in Sri Lanka, cinnamon is an integral part of Asian cooking. Also known as Dal Cheeni in India, cinnamon is used to add a distinctive aroma and flavour to dishes. Cinnamon is used in both ground and solid form and is added to desserts for a unique taste. 
   
   
4. Coriander or Cilantro: A herb consumed all over the world for its refreshing property, is used as a garnish in the Asian cuisine. Thai cuisine uses cilantro’s roots, leaves, and stalks to make green curry paste and as garnish while in Indian and Chinese cuisine, just the leaves are used to garnish or make chutney as a side dish.
   
   
5. Curry Leaves: Another herb used in the Indian cuisine for its distinctively aromatic and flavourful properties. Curry leaves are mostly used in the making of the dishes of South Indian cuisine. It is used in both fresh and dried form. Purchase premium quality, fresh curry leaves from, online Asian shop in Berlin, Spice Village. 
   
   
6. Fenugreek: Fenugreek or methi is consumed majorly in Indian cooking. The seeds of methi or methi dana are added to dishes for its sour flavours and aroma.
    
7. Galangal: A herb that looks very similar to ginger but is entirely different. It adds an aromatic bitterness to Thai dishes and is known as 'ka' in Thai markets.
   
   
8. Turmeric: A yellow coloured powdered spice added to Asian cuisines for its taste and colour. Turmeric or Haldi has various health benefits too and is even consumed raw or with milk in India for these benefits.
    
9. Seven- Spices: Seven-spice is also known as Japanese shichimi. It is a hot blend of spices that include: tangerine peel, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, chilies, and seaweed flakes along with ginger and sansho pepper. Added to dishes for its fragrance and flavours.
    
10. Cumin: Found in both ground and whole form, cumin is used extensively in the Asian cuisine, mostly in India. White cumin is roasted, blended and added to curries in the Asian cuisine.
     
11. Cloves: Added to both savory and sweet dishes, clove is another very important spice that carries a lot of medicinal properties. 

Apart from these Thai Basil, Star anise, lemon grass, cardamom, kaffir lime leaves, etc. are some of the most widely used and consumed Asian spices. The availability of these spices and herbs in supermarkets abroad has increased the number of people trying Asian cuisine. Once one gathers all necessary ingredients to create the perfect Indian dish, there is no going back.