Uncommon Spices of India

India is a vast country and full of diversity. The food too is diverse. While some foods are commonly used many other are used once in a while or rarely. It is the spicy food that makes Indian food so delicious. But it is not all hot and spicy some masalas are used rarely. People store common masalas but they also store masalas, herbs, and dried fruits like kokum, kasuri methi, and aonla or Indian gooseberry. Some spices are regional and local. These are rare pan India and are specific or local to an area. These can be termed as lesser known and fetch real diversity in Indian Cuisine.

Some of the lesser-known spices are:

Kokum

Kokum is used as a spice and is local to the Kokan Region, some parts of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Gujarat.  The fruit is salted and dried and stored with a long storage life. Often it is dried, ground to powder, and stored. Kokum is used in vegetable curries and daal or lentil soup.      

Bhoot Jhalokia

One of the hottest chilies in the world finds one bite and tears started rolling from your eyes. The chili pepper grows in Assam and is sent to all parts of North India.

Lakadong Turmeric

LakadongTurmeric is one of the most liked spices in South Asia. The rhizome spice has found international recognition. Lakadong turmeric has a greater amount of curcumin. The rhizome is the most prized variety of people. It is grown in the Meghalaya State of India. The spice is derived from the underground stem of Curcuma Lomba Root and rhizome.  

Jakhiya

Jakhiya is an edible seed of the Himalayan region. It is widely grown Grahwall in the Uttarakhand State of India. in the Garhwali cuisine in Uttarakhand. The seeds are used for tampering and it is added to curries and different gravies. It is delectable, crunchy, and pungent. 

These are some lesser-known spices of India. Living Beyond sells wholesome masalas in attractive packing. Wholesome spices are trending in India as powdered ones are gathering a bad reputation. The powder masalas and those sold as loose are often of low quality and often adulterated.