China has a big name in the food industry. Most of them are spicy foods. So what spices are Chinese use for their tasty foods? Here five of them for you.
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric powder is made by powdering roots of the turmeric plant. This plant looks similar to ginger. Turmeric powder is a yellow colour powder that used not only in China but also in India. It is mildly aromatic and smells like ginger or orange. It has a peppery flavour and can use for many vegetable dishes. This powder also can use as a dye. Turmeric is not only for foods. But it also works as an antibiotic. It can be for cancers and stomach issues because It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is an antioxidant.
Cloves
Cloves are the flower buds of an evergreen tree called “Syzygium aromaticum“. They are native to Indonesia but used in china and India. They are aromatic spices. They are using to improve the taste and smell of foods. Especially meats and curries. Cloves are the main ingredients in gingerbread. Cloves have been used for traditional medicine because it is antioxidative and Contain nutrients. Also, it can kill bacteria. Chinese are using cloves as pumpkin spice.
Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds are native to the Mediterranean but growing in China. They are different parts of the fennel plant. Some times called sweet cumin or large cummin. These seeds long and thin. Green or brown. Have been used as a spice in many regions. Fennel seeds are rich in fibre. They are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. So like other spices, fennel seeds can use for medical purpose. Chinese people use these to make delicious meat dishes like Lanzhou beef noodle soup.
Bay Leaf
Bay leaves come from evergreen bay laurel plant. The thick and leathery leaves elongated with pointy ends. Use as dried or fresh. There are two varieties of bay plants including Mediterranean and California bay leaves. Mostly use added to slow-cooked recipes. Most recipes use dried bay leaves, which have a slightly stronger scent than fresh ones. Bay leaves are a rich source of vitamin A and C, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Chinese people use bay leaves for meat to get rid of The smell.
Sesame Seeds
These Seeds are from sesame flowering plants. Unhulled seeds have outer, edible husk. Other seeds come without it. The husk gives the seeds a golden-brown colour. White and black varieties are available.
The black seeds have a richer flavour and aroma. have a nutty, slightly sweet taste. The smell can increase by roasting. These are rich in Fibre and protein. They may help lower your blood pressure. In China, sesameseeds are used to flavour cakes, cookies, and popular desserts.
Cinnamon reduces cholesterol and helps to boost metabolism. Cinnamon helps in stabilising blood sugar levels. This is very essential for weight loss. If you are suffering from diabetic cinnamon can help in managing blood sugar spikes. it has antibacterial properties and thus it helps to fight various infections in the body. Cinnamon is often recommended for stomach upsets as it can help clear harmful bacterias from the digestive system.
Pure cinnamon is a natural remedy to fight yeast infections. Cinnamon is one of the most effective cancer-fighting food mainly because it has high antioxidant content and also because of its antibacterial property. Pure cinnamon has the ability to lower cholesterol levels and improve blood circulation throughout the body and hence cinnamon can help prevent heart disease.
The anti-inflammatory properties of cinnamon help to reduce arthritis pain and lessen inflammation of the body. Cinnamon helps to balance hormones. Cinnamon is an excellent natural remedy for hormonal imbalances in women. Especially for health issues like thyroid, PCOS and other hormonal issues.
What kind of cinnamon should you use?
Now let me explain the type of cinnamon which you should be used in this tea. So these are the two types of cinnamon which are commonly found. The right one is known as cinnamon quills, The bark is rolled into small quills and this is actually the second quality these quills are made from the third or fourth layer of the cinnamon tree bark and it has less oil content and hence the benefits also will be less but these are very pretty to look at and usually used in food photography.
Since the layers are very thin they can be easily powdered very finely. Now the second type of cinnamon which is on the left side these are not very pretty to look at, but these cinnamon barks are the best quality they are actually the outer bark or the first or second layer of the cinnamon bark tree. This cinnamon has more oil content than the cinnamon quills on the right side plus they have more benefits.
How to make
Into a saucepan add in 1 cup or 200ml water and then added two cinnamon sticks.
Now allow this to boil
Once it starts to boil simmer the flame for 10 minutes and as it is simmering you can see that the colour of the water is changing to a light amber colour
After 10 minutes switch off the flame and allow the water to cool down
Once the cinnamon water is warm pour it into a cup or a glass
Then add in 1 teaspoon honey and mix well you can remove the cinnamon sticks
Now 100% natural and effective cinnamon tea is ready to drink.
This tea on empty stomach in the morning and for best results have another cup at bed-time
By using spices and herbs with our dishes, we can give great flavors and colors and dishes. Not only flavor and color, but they also have many medicinal values too. Spices and herbs basically rich in nutrition and antioxidants. Because of all these reasons, by using spices and herbs with our dishes, we can get more benefits. We leave 10 good reasons to include them in our dishes.
The herbs, spices, and other condiments are part of those details that can change a dish or give a small, unique quality and a more enjoyable and complete finish. So that we do not waste these ingredients, we leave you 10 good reasons to add them to the dishes.
1. They improve the qualities of the dish
The main advantage of using aromatic herbs, spices, or other condiments in our dishes, they improve the various qualities of our recipes. Mainly they allow us to add flavor, color, and aroma to the preparations, giving it a difference and a better appearance.
There are dishes in which we can’t stop using certain condiments or herbs so that we really get the traditional recipe that we know. Therefore, an excellent reason to use herbs and spices in our kitchen is to achieve the flavor, aroma, and color that we desire in our preparations.
2. Add vitamins to recipes
These small ingredients, even used in minute proportions, improve the flavor and color of the dishes, and add good nutrients. Many herbs and spices can obtain valuable vitamins for the body.
For example,
From parsley, we can obtain vitamin C
From coriander and basil or paprika we can gain considerable amounts of vitamin A and carotenes
The last thing just mentioned of the vitamin that protects the health of the skin and eyes.
3. They are a source of antioxidants
Oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, and cloves had classified as aromatic plants and spices with the highest antioxidant power. They also concentrate on antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C and vitamin A, phenolic compounds that neutralize the effect of free radicals of oxygen in our body.
On the other hand, oregano and rosemary have shown to favor food preservation due to their high antioxidants concentration. So that not only does their intake benefit to our body. We can also extend the shelf life of our dishes or other foods using herbs and spices as ingredients.
4. They offer important minerals
As well as being a source of vitamins and antioxidants, most herbs and spices concentrate important minerals to our body. They help with the health of the organism, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, or iron.
In this way, we can obtain,
With thyme, iron
With laurel, calcium
With tarragon, potassium
With pepper, calcium, and potassium
at the same time.
So herbs and spices also help prevent nutritional deficiencies in the body.
5. Improve the metabolic response of meals
According to research, herbs and spices in dishes reduce insulin response and triglyceride elevation after a high-fat meal. Cinnamon is also known to promote blood glucose control. So it can be very helpful in preventing and treating diabetes, as some studies have shown.
Therefore, herbs and spices can make preparations healthier by adding nutrients and antioxidants and improving the metabolic response after consumption in the body.
6. Help burn more calories
Some spices have a thermogenic effect; that is, they can stimulate the increase in body temperature. It helps when a higher caloric expense of our body to maintain a stable temperature. Among the spices that possess this quality, we find pepper.
7. They contribute to reducing the consumption of salt
For people with high blood pressure, kidney or cardiovascular problems, reducing salt or sodium consumption is a priority. Also, the addition of spices, herbs, and condiments can help this task by highlighting the dishes’ flavor without having to resort to table salt.
Most herbs and spices do not concentrate on sodium or additives. But instead are a source of potassium, magnesium, and other minerals that undo the effect of sodium on the body.
8. They hardly add calories to dishes
As they are ingredients concentrated in nutrients and at the same time, they have a powerful flavor and aroma. They are using in small proportions, which is why they hardly add calories to dishes. Although they much increase the presence of proper nutrients in them.
If you are worried about the line and body weight, herbs and spices are not a thing that stops. But can even help you achieve healthy and nutritious dishes, without too many calories.
9. Help lose weight
They add nutrients without almost providing calories, but they can also be a great resource in the kitchen. If we are looking to lose weight, herbs, and spices favor the feeling of satiety.
By completely satisfying ourselves earlier, we can eat less and better control our intake, which definitely helps our process of losing weight. Also, adding herbs and spices to healthy dishes makes them more palatable and favors their consumption, which can help our diet plan to lose weight.
10. They are very versatile and varied
A last and no less important reason to use herbs and spices in our dishes is that they are versatile, and we can use them in all preparations. In addition, if we do not feel like some herb, such as coriander that does not have many followers, we can quickly find another in its replacement that offers flavor, nutrients, and useful properties.
We can use herbs and spices in hot and cold dishes, in sweet or savory preparations, in stews, stir-fries, sauces, dressings, desserts, and many more recipes. There are no excuses not to take advantage of these ingredients in your dishes; on the contrary, we leave 10 good reasons to add herbs and spices to your kitchen.
Saffron is one of the most valuable spices medicine in the world from the past. Ancient Romans and Greeks have used saffron as a perfume. Not only past but also today use saffron as a cooking spice, herb, medicine, and even as a clothing and skin dye. Now let’s move to the price of Saffron.
When we are talking about the price of saffron, surely you will be shocked. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and its price is about 5000$ per Pound. The next most costly spices are Vanilla and Cardamom, respectively, and also their prices are 600$ and 30$.
According to these details, you can understand Saffron is really expensive.
What can be the reason for this huge price? Is Saffron valuable for this price? Let’s discuss this.
There are four main reasons for this huge price, and they are as follows.
Saffron makes using the Crocus Sativus flower (Saffron Crocus flower). Actually, saffron is the stigma of this flower. One Crocus Sativus flower has only three red stigmas, and it is the female part of the flower. This stigma is not very weighty, so we need 60,000-90,000 Crocus Sativus flowers to produce one pound of saffron. It is the main reason for this high price. Planting Crocus Sativus is not easy work. Crocus Sativus is a very sensitive flower, and there are unique treatments for it.
Saffron Flowers Planting
As mentioned above, the saffron flower needs its unique treatments. All of these treatments should do by hand works. So we need laborers for that. They have to pick the stigma and dry it. Laborers should do it very carefully because they must avoid damaging the other parts of the plant. We need many laborers for it, and it is another reason for this high price of saffron.
Crocus Sativus Flowers
Saffon has many usages like as a medicine, dye, spice, herb and also as a cosmetic. Saffron is rich in some rare natural chemicals like Picrocrocin, Crocin, and Safranal. All of them are really expensive chemicals and high in medical importance. Because of these reasons Saffron has a good demand in the market because of these valuable chemicals.
Saffron Stigmas
Saffron is very sensitive on every side, and it needs its own climate conditions to grow well. Morning is the preferred time to harvest saffron because sunlight can break the chemical structure of saffron. The main supplier of the saffron is Iran because arid fields and climate of Iran are suitable for saffron. Actually saffron native to Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, and Iran. Another special point about saffron is it has massive resistance against cold weather.
Crocus Sativus Flowers
Those are the reason behind the massive price of saffron. Now you will feel some excuse about this expensive price of saffron.
Not only Iran today saffron grows in India, Afganisthan, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, France too. But about 90% of the saffron mass in today’s world produce in Iran. The United States also grows saffron today, but it’s a little bit because the United States hasn’t a suitable climate for that.
Saffron taste is totally different from other spices, and it has a fantastic feeling. Not only taste it’s smell also very lovely.
According to my tasting experiences, I believe that everyone should taste saffron at least one time of their lifetime. Surely you will not worry about the price because saffron has a wealthy taste for that wealthy price.
Cardamom is one of the ancient spice which has two main types. They are Black Cardamom and Green Cardamom. There is also another type of cardamom name as white cardamom, but actually, it is a bleached version of green cardamom. Cardamom is one of the most expensive spices in the world and surpassed in price per weight only by Vanilla and Saffron. What will be the secret of cardamom taste?
Whats like the taste and smell of cardamom
Cardamom has a memorable flavor and smell. It has a spicy, herbal, strong, warm, mint flavor, and it’s quite a complex flavor. There is no one to compare with its taste.
Green cardamom is the top choice for sweet dishes, but it is also suitable for savory dishes. Black cardamom is the most suitable cardamom variety for savory dishes because it has a smokier and earthier flavor. White cardamom, the bleached version, has less flavor.
Not only taste, but cardamom also has an intensely, smoky, aromatic, resinous smell. Black cardamom especially has this smell because the black one is more earthy and smoky than the green one.
Ones you taste and smell the cardamom, surely you’ll be addicted to it.
Main two types of Cardamom
Cardamom Nutrition facts
Cardamom has several nutrition facts like vitamins, minerals, some fiber, and also very low in carbohydrates and calories. According to researches, one tablespoon of cardamom has the following quantities of nutritions.
Calories: 18
Total Fat: 0.4 grams
Carbohydrates: 4.0 grams
Fiber: 1.6 grams
Protein: 0.6 grams
Potassium: 64.9 milligrams
Calcium: 22.2 milligrams
Iron: 0.81 milligrams
Magnesium: 13.3 milligrams
Phosphorus: 10.3 milligrams
Medical benefits of cardamom
Cardamom is a spice that has so many medical values. People use cardamom as a supplement for their health benefits. This great spice has the following health benefits.
Cardamom oil able to kill bacteria and fungi
Suitable to prevent high blood sugar and high cholesterol
Cardamom helps to boost heart health and reduce heart diseases
Anyone can use as a breath freshener
According to Ayurvedic medicine, green cardamom can increase liver health
Cardamom has the ability to fight with diseases such as cancer
Natural nutrients can help with digestive ailments
Because of these benefits, people use cardamom with their cooking, and also cardamom tea is a popular drink among some people.
If you want, you can buy cardamom capsules or tablets list a dosage of 400–500 mg of dried herb per pill.
Cardamom use as a drink
Risks and side effects of cardamom
There are no reported side effects or risks because of the usage of cardamom.
Using cardamom as a spice or a drink is safe for most people. But you should know if you have any allergies or gallstone complications with cardamom.
From where cardamom come to us
Most of the time, cardamom grows in Asian countries. According to records, cardamom is a native plant in South Indian forests.
Today it also grows in other countries like Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Indo China, and Tanzania. Today they deliver them worldwide.
