Spice Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a known spice to us. The word nutmeg comes from the latin word nux. Nutmeg is not similar to peanuts or other nuts though the spice contains the nut with the name. The color of nutmeg spice is brown. It is a slightly sweeter flavor spice. In many foods, nutmeg is used as a spice and flavoring. Two pictures of nutmeg spices shown below.

• Spice Name: Nutmeg

• Family name: Myristicaceae

• Scientific Name: Myristica Fragrans

Spice Nutmeg is native to Indonesia. It is now cultivated in the West Indies and many countries in the world. Indonesia is the top producer of nutmeg. 

Nutmeg tree has narrow oval leaves and the spice is made from its seeds. Its leaves are thick and evergreen. After drying the fresh fruit it becomes a spice. The nutmeg tree is a medium high tree. The peak harvesting is during the month of June to August. When the fruit is ripe then it is ready for harvesting. The harvest of nutmeg trees takes seven to ten years after planting. After twenty years the tree is ready for full production. Nutmeg tree bears the fruit up to sixty years. 

 

Nutmeg contains different vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamins A, C and E. It also contains copper, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc etc. It is used for flavoring many dishes. Nutmeg is found to have health benefits. It is used in Western and Chinese herbal medicine. Nutmeg is used to flavor many kinds of baked goods, confections, pudding, potatoes, sauces and vegetables. It is also used in  soaps and cosmetics preparation. 

Spice Walnut

The walnut spice is commonly consumed as a nut. The spice has been used for a long time in many countries in the world. The walnut tree is considered one of the most valuable trees for its spice and wood. The spice can be eaten raw or toasted. The spice is used in many food preparations. The names and two pictures are shown below of walnuts, one is dry and other is fresh at the tree.

• Spice Name: Walnut
• Family name: Juglandaceae
• Scientific Name: Juglans

Spice walnut is native to North and South America, Southern Europe, Asia and the West Indies. Walnut spice is cultivated mostly in China, Iran, United States, Turkey and Mexico. 

To identify a walnut tree is by their bark, leaves and nuts. Their bark is light gray to dark brown.  The leaves of the walnut tree are pinnate. The walnut tree is valuable for its spice and wood is used to make good furniture and other wooden work. The wood of a walnut tree is hard, heavy and resilient. The tree lives up to two hundred years. 

 

Walnut spice contains vitamins and minerals. It contains vitamin A, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, C, E and vitamin K. Walnut also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, folic acid etc. The spice can be used as ingredients in other foodstuffs. The walnut pieces are used as an ice cream topping and garnish on  some foods. Walnuts have a wealth of good kinds of fats which are better than saturated fats. The vitamins and minerals of walnuts give health benefits. Eating walnuts helps to repair the hair from exposure to the sun. Walnut husk can be used to make ink for writing and drawing.

Curry Leaf Spice

Curry leaves are a spice used for many purposes. It is aromatic and used in cooking. The leaves have a lemon scent. The plant is also called sweet neem tree. Curry leaves are small in size and long, oval in shape and look like lemon leaves. The names and two pictures are shown below of curry leaves and curry tree.

• Spice Name: Curry Leaf
• Family name: Rutaceae
• Scientific Name: Murraya Koenigii

Curry trees are native to Asia. It is cultivated in India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, the United States and many countries in the world. The plant can grow during any time of the year.

Curry leaf plants are not long. It is six to twenty feet tall and four to twelve feet wide. The tree grew better and was well-drain with fertile soil. The plant is sensitive to extreme heat. There are three kinds of curry leaf trees.  They are regular, dwarf, and gamthi. The regular types grow faster and taller then the other two. The young plant is similar to a lavender tree. The leaves of the curry plant are shiny dark green.

 

Curry leaves are rich in vitamin A, B, B2, C and vitamin E. It contains calcium, copper, calcium, phosphorus, fiber and iron. The leaves are used for flavoring foodstuff. It is used in South Indian cuisine. Curry leaves are used as folklore medicine. The leaves can be used fresh or boiled. It helps to reduce many diseases including skin diseases.

Spice Lettuce

Lettuce is a leaf type spice. The leaf of the lettuce is used mainly as spice. It can be used either raw or cooked. Two pictures of lettuce spice and its names are shown below.

• Spice Name: Lettuce
• Family name: Asteraceae
• Scientific Name: Lactuca Sativa

Lettuce originated in the Mediterranean area and was grown as weed. It is spread to all areas of the world. The spice has been cultivated for thousands of years. Normal lettuce leaf is green in color. Some varieties of lettuce produce bluish, golden, yellow and reddish leaves. 

The Lettuce plant and its leaves are small. The plant can reach six to eight inch in height. The spice plant can easily can be cultivated. The plant has a soft body and is small and high. Its leaves are small and green. The plant grown in the spring. It is an annual plant to the daisy family. The leaves are mainly used as spices.

 

Lettuce spice has good nutritional value. It contains vitamin A, C and vitamin B6. It also contains iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium minerals. Lettuce is most often used for salads. It is used for preparation of salads, soups and sandwiches. 

Costly Spice Saffron

Saffron is a special and most expensive spice. The spice is well known to us. It is used to prepare of different types of curry and food coloring. Saffron plant is a flowering plant. Its names and two pictures are shown below one is dry saffron and another one is for flowers.

• Spice Name: Saffron
• Family name: Iridaceae
• Botanical Name: Crocus Sativus L.

Saffron is native to Southwest Asia. It was first cultivated in Greece. At present it is cultivated in many countries in the world.

The saffron plant is not so high. The body of the plant is soft. The saffron plant grows poor in shade but more in full sunlight and well drained soil. It can also grow in the home yard. Plant the bulb four to five inch deep into the soil and their difference is five to six inches between one plant to another. In autumn the plant appears as a beautiful flower. Fifty to sixty flowers produce a simple one tablespoon saffron.

Saffron is a reddish-brown or golden yellow in color. After collecting the saffron from the plant it is dried for use as a seasoning and coloring agent in food. It is grinding in a machine as a powder then used as spice also.

 

Saffron contains vitamin A, B6 and C. It also contains minerals such as copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and zinc. It is used as spice in food flavoring for better taste. It is also used as fragrance in perfume and as a dye for cloth.

Spice Sesame

Sesame is an ancient spice. The spice is black in color. Sesame is considered the oldest oil seed. It was cultivated in Egypt long ago. From the spices, oil is extracted which is called sesame oil. It is a well known oil seed spice. The names and two pictures are given below one is for seeds and another one is for powder.

• Spice Name: Sesame
• Family name: Pedaliaceae
• Scientific Name: Sesamum Indicum

Sesame spice is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It grows in hot climates. The spice is cultivated in many countries in the world for spices and sesame oil.

The spice sesame plant is not long high. The spices are harvested once a year. The body and leaves of the plant are soft and green. At the time of flowering the plant looks very beautiful.

Sesame fruit grown from flowers and black seeds are found from the fruit. After harvesting the seeds are extracted from fruit. One plants gives many sesame fruits. There are many seeds within a fruit. Grinding the seeds by machine prepared the powder of sesame. 

 

The sesame contains a good source of healthy fats. It is a source of  vitamins C and vitamin B6. It also contains iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium. It is used as spice and oil. The sesame oil is used in baking products, in cooking and snacks.

Spice Turmeric

Turmeric is one of the common spices to all. The spices are used as a curry additive. It has been used in Asia for many years. Its names and two pictures are shown below one is dry turmeric and another one is turmeric powder.

• Spice Name: Turmeric
• Family name: Zingiberaceae
• Botanical Name: Curcuma Longa L

Spice turmeric is native to Southern India and Indonesia. The spice comes from the root of curcuma longa, a flowering plant of the ginger family. The plant needs seven to ten months for harvesting. It is widely cultivated in the islands of the Indian Ocean. For more consumption of turmeric spices it is now cultivated in many countries in the world.

The spice turmeric plant does not grow so high, it is about one meter. The spice grows under soil like potato, ginger and onion. The body of the plant is soft. 

Turmeric is a flowering plant. It is a flowering spices plant. The flowers are white to green and sometimes reddish purple. The plant can grow easily in a small space, the yard or in a tub.

 

Turmeric is used in cooking. After drying, turmeric is grinding in a machine and making powder to use for cooking. The color of the turmeric powder is bright yellow. Turmeric is one of the best ingredients in Asian dishes. It is also a major ingredient in curry powder. It contains vitamin C, vitamins B6 and other antioxidants. It also contains an excellent source of Manganese and iron. It is using not only food flavor, color and better taste. It is long used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Spice Rosemary

Spices Rosemary is known to all.  The leaves of which are used to flavor foods. Rosemary is used as spice for preparing delicious meals. Rosemary has  been used since the time of the early Greeks and Romans. Two pictures are shown below, one is dry rosemary spices and another one is green rosemary trees.

• Spice Name: Rosemary
• Family name: Lamiaceae
• Botanical Name: Salvia Rosmarinus

Rosemary spice is native to the Mediterranean region and Asia.  For its more use, it is now cultivated in many countries in the world. 

Spice rosemary plant is evergreen. The leaves of the tree look needle-like. The plant is not so high. Rosemary flowers are white, pink, purple or blue in colors. It is widely grown in the garden of warm climate. While flowers appearing in the tree looks very beautiful to see.

 

Rosemary spices contain substances that are useful for digestion. It is used in curry, salads, and soups. Rosemary contains vitamins A, C and B-6. It also contains iron and calcium. The spice is not used only for food flavor, better taste and smell also used as an aromatic herb and medicine. The spice is renowned for health benefits.

Spice Raisin

A raisin is the spice of dried grapes which come from fruit grapes. The grapes when dried for around three weeks make spice raisin. The raisin is a sweet spice. It is a well known spice to everyone. Its names and two pictures are shown below one is grapes and another one is raisin.

• Spice Name: Raisin
• Family name: Vitaceae
• Botanical Name: Vitis Vinifera

Spice raisin is native to Europe and Southwest Asia. It is now commercially cultivated in many countries in the world. Actually it is cultivated and grows as grapes.

The spice raisin plant is a long lived plant. The tree gives fruit for many years. The plant has a soft body and is not so high. The fruit rarely grows as an individual. They grow more with clusters or together. 

Grapes are found in various colors such as green, pink, deep purple, yellowish green, reddish pink etc. Grapes are processed by sun drying, shade drying and mechanical drying to prepare raisins.

 

Raisins are quite rich in iron. It contains high vitamins and minerals. It is using not only food flavor and better taste. In the baking industries it is used for making bread, biscuits, cake and many other baking products. Also in family sweet food it is used commonly.