Masala chai, or "spiced tea", is renowned for its abundance of comforting spices. There are many variations of chai spices, depending on region, family tradition and individual preference. Here's a guide to the Masala chai spices used in India and elsewhere. Main organic spices in Masala chai These spices are present in almost all versions of Masala chai: Real cinnamon Cinnamon is rich, very slightly pungent and tannic - a great base for most...Continue Reading

You either know Vadouvan or you don't. If you've tasted it or smelled it once, you'll never forget it! If you've tasted or smelled it once, you'll never forget it! Its unique, bewitching fragrance will leave you breathless, and its musky, amber, smoky, sweet and salty taste is inimitable. What is vadouvan? Vadouvan is a blend of spices, the first part being onion, shallot and garlic, and the second part spices such as fenugreek, cumin and turmeric. A lot of...Continue Reading

It's the new discovery of top chefs, but little known to the general public: loumi. But what is loumi? Loumi is originally a lime that has been scalded and then dried in the sun for several days. It's better known as black lemon or dried lemon. Iraqis call it noomi basra, while in Iran it's known as limoo omani or loomi tout court in the Sultanate of Oman...Continue Reading

Here are some explanations to help you understand what a spice is? a. What parts of plants are eaten in spices? the root: - turmeric, ginger, galangal the fruit : - vanilla, chillies, cardamom the fruit casing : - false peppers - mace (nutmeg) the fruit seed : - nuts (nutmeg, almond, ...), peppers and false peppers - cumin, fenugreek, aniseed the flower bud...Continue Reading

It's summer, and we're avoiding turning on the oven in favor of salads, barbecues and chilled desserts. So here's a simple yet refreshing recipe for this hot summer season. Made with fresh fruit and Indian spices infused in brown cane sugar syrup, this fruit salad is a delight. Depending on your eating habits, you can replace the cane sugar with a lower glycemic index sugar. Fruit salad with Indian spices...Continue Reading

Whether it's from Algeria, Tunisia or Morocco, couscous is all about sharing and celebrating with family and friends. Berbers celebrate the New Year with couscous, and colorful eggs are sprinkled throughout the dish. What are the origins of couscous in France? It's no coincidence that couscous is one of France's top 10 favorite dishes. It's been known in France since the 16th century, and in 1534 Rabelais wrote "Force coscossons, et renfort de potages" (Gargantua,...Continue Reading

Of Arabic origin, the word "coffee" comes from "qawha". Coffee was introduced to Egypt in the 15th century (during the Mamlûk period) from southern Egypt (Nubia) via Yemen and Arabia. The Mamlûks had complete control over the trade, which was initially limited to the upper social classes. As you may have read in our various episodes on the history of the world's spices, the 15th century saw the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, enabling...Continue Reading

A friend asked me to make him a special organic gingerbread mix (he's from the Dijon region, so his request came as no surprise). Admittedly, it's not the height of the season (though?), but it still has major nutritional benefits, especially for marathon runners and trailers. Gingerbread is a sportsman's cake! Nothing too complicated, you might say: flour, honey, organic spices, but you've still got to use the right ones. Here's how...Continue Reading

You've got them all in your kitchen cupboard: pepper, curry, saffron, papryka, turmeric, cinnamon... But according to the French fraud control authority, there is a lot of fraud - up to 81% for saffron! Do you really know what's on your plate? For RMC, Marie Dupin unveils a fraud investigation into spices and spice blends. Spice consumption has exploded in less than 10 years: +35%. But the investigation by the French Direction...Continue Reading

Alexander's conquest of India... 326 BC // year 47 We stopped at the beginnings of the future Suez Canal, 500 BC, which would have made it possible to avoid the long route taken by Ishmaelite merchants to Egypt. Alexander the Great entered India from the north-west in 326 BC, in a bitter battle (as was often the case in those days), and decided to open up two other routes by which he could transport spices from that country....Continue Reading