India is the world's largest producer of spices. The availablity of abundant natural resources and favourable climate makes it favourable for the growth of spices in India.
India contributes to 75% of global spice production. This is reflected culturally through their cuisine; historically, the spice trade developed throughout the Indian subcontinent, as well as in East Asia and the Middle East.
Over time many culinary cultures evolved all-important and iconic spice blends for specific cuisines. India is home to so many spices and numerous spice blends.
Spices are the world's 618th most traded product. In 2021, the top exporters of Spices were China ($783M), India ($583M), Netherlands ($251M), Germany ($158M), and Turkey ($135M).
As part of the largest producer of herbs and spices in the world, McCormick Foods Australia has an intimate knowledge of global food and flavour trends.
Cardamom contains many medicinal properties and provides great taste and fragrance when added to refreshing drinks. Therefore, it is regarded as the "Queen of Spices". Q. Why cardamom is called the 'Queen of Spices'.
Cardamom or Elettaria Cardamomum Maton is one of the most highly prized and exotic spices and rightly deserves the name “queen of spices”. It is also commonly referred to as the “green cardamom” or the “true cardamom”, and belongs to the family of ginger. The use of this spice dates back to at least 4000 years.
Cinnamon is an ancient spice that predates the recorded history of culinary applications of all spices. As such, it has been dubbed the “world's oldest spice”, which may be a warranted title, knowing that because it was found to be included in Egyptian embalming recipes.
Kochi is known by a lot of nicknames such as God's Own Country and the Queen of the Arabian Sea. It has also been known as the Spice Capital of the world, since ancient times.
What are the three most highly prized spices in the world?
Today the world's three most expensive spices are Saffron, Vanilla and Mahlab. Originating from a flower called Crocus Sativus, the high price of saffron comes from the laborious harvest work of picking the stigmas delicately by hand to prevent damage and leaving them to dry.
Black Pepper is considered the 'king of spices' and rightfully so. Unlike its perennial companion, salt, which is easily available in any nook and corner of the world, the black pepper owes its origins to Kerala – a state in South India.
Known the world over for its flavour, aroma and vibrant colour, saffron has the reputation for being its most expensive spice. This is in part because of the intense labour involved in growing, cultivating and picking saffron.
