Articles on Mahanandi

Recently I started doing a guest series on spices on Mahanandi, an amazing Indian food blog. Here is the link to my articles. I will update this list every time I post an article on Mahanandi.

Article on Turmeric
Article on Asafoetida

Photography

I recently bought this wonderful Hibiscus from my local nursery. I also bought 3 different kinds of Jasmine plants - single Jasmine, double Jasmine and Duke Jasmine. The word "fragrant" doesn't even come close to explaining the Duke Jasmine flowers. It is something out of this world.

Tulsi - Indian Holy Basil

Indian Holy Basil -Tulsi

There are many different varieties of Basil. The Indian variety is called Tulsi (botanical name - Ocimum Sanctum). Tulsi is a perennial plant and has a light lemon scent.
Tulsi has a very special place in Ayurveda. Tulsi acts as a diaphoretic and hence Tulsi Tea is used to help sweat out a fever. It is also considered to be antibacterial and antiseptic. Tulsi stimulates the immune system by increasing the production of antibodies.

Tulsi Tea provides relief from colds, coughs, headache and fevers. A simple way to make Tulsi Tea using Tulsi extract is as follows:
Add 1-2 drops of Tulsi extract to a hot cup of water. Add little honey .
Sip slowly and enjoy.

Tulsi Tea is very soothing and refreshing. It stimulates nerves and is a great stress reliever.

Next time you feel down and gloomy, try Tulsi Tea.

Asafoetida (Hing, Asafetida)

Asafoetida block

Asafoetida is an integral part of Indian cooking and is a must for lentil dishes and curries with green leafy vegetables. The name asafoetida is derived from the Persian for resin “aza” and the Latin for stinking “fetida”.

Asafoetida is a resinous gum that is extracted from the root and stem of a giant perennial fennel that is at least 4 yrs old. The stem/root of the plant is slashed and kept in shade while the sap seeps out and hardens. This dried, grayish-white gum is then scraped off which turns reddish and finally reddish-brown as it ages. The asafoetida that we buy in stores has only about 30 -40% of pure asafoetida and the rest is edible starch (rice or wheat flour) to make the powder more manageable.

This spice is carminative and some researchers believe that asafoetida, like garlic oil, may help lower blood pressure. Asafoetida is a pungent spice and helps stimulate appetite and improve digestion. Asafoetida alleviates the sensation of heaviness after a heavy meal. In India, it’s a common practice to have buttermilk with asafoetida to treat indigestion.

Asafoetida is a great substitute for garlic. It has strong aroma that is toned down during cooking which results in a complementary flavor to the dish.

Turmeric

Turmeric is used by every Indian in every meal. Not just for its vibrant yellow color but for its medicinal properties too. Turmeric is probably the most researched spice today. Ayurvedic cooking recommends adding turmeric to every meal. Curcumin, found in turmeric is a very potent antioxidant. Antioxidants keep in check the free radicals produced in our body. Free radicals when produced by our body in excess harm any cell membranes they can find.

The turmeric powder can be bought in any Indian store. But the one that you find in store normally has little food color added to it. Our turmeric extract is pure and contain no chemicals or food color.

The way I like to use turmeric extract is in warm milk. When my daughter complains of itchy throat, I give her warm milk with a few drops of turmeric extract and some sugar. To treat dry cough, I mix a few drops of turmeric extract with some honey.

Customize your Tea

For a Tea lover like me, there is nothing in this world like a hot cup of delicious masala chai. Just one cup of this amazing chai is enough to perk up your spirits.
Masala chai has typically 6 spices added to it - Cardamom, Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cinnamon and peppercorn. Every spice contributes its own distinctive flavor, fragrance and medicinal properties.Masala chai is amazingly fragrant with all these spices added to it.

Unfortunately we all are too busy to grind fresh spices to make masala chai. Supreme Spice Tea Masala extract makes it easy to give your regular chai a spicy makeover - anywhere and anytime.
Just make chai the way you like (some like it strong , some like it light ) and then just add 1-2 drops of Supreme Spice Tea Masala extract directly to your cup of tea and enjoy.

Take the extract with you to work and you can sip a aromatic cup of authentic masala chai right in your office.

Don't feel like having masala chai ? Try Supreme Spice Cardamom extract for a yummy Cardamom tea or add a drop of Supreme Spice Ginger extract and enjoy a very warming cup of Ginger tea.

Don't drink plain tea when you can customize it according to your mood.
Anytime, anywhere.

Welcome To Our New Blog!

Hello everybody,

I am Anjali Damerla, owner of Supreme Spice.
I am so excited to start our new blog. I thought a lot about whether to start a forum or a blog. But, I guess, my recent interest in writing made me decide to go for a blog. :) .
Also, I think, blog is a better way to connect with all you wonderful people out there.