Spice guide
88 Indian spices, herbs, seeds and masalas. Explore their names and culinary uses, then choose the quantity that suits your needs. Culinary facts and traditional uses are distinguished from scientific evidence.
Each guide covers English and Hindi names, botanical name when it is useful, growing regions, whole vs ground, and what to check on a pack. Guides are generated from the spice entity file — we do not auto-publish unverified encyclopaedia essays as medical fact.
Confused in a UK supermarket aisle? Start with spice comparisons (cumin vs caraway, Kashmiri vs regular chilli, garam masala vs curry powder).
Seeds & everyday spices
Cumin
जीरा · Cuminum cyminum
Black cumin
काला जीरा · Bunium persicum
Coriander
धनिया · Coriandrum sativum
Fenugreek
मेथी · Trigonella foenum-graecum
Fennel seed
सौंफ · Foeniculum vulgare
Mustard seed
राई / सरसों · Brassica juncea / Brassica nigra / Sinapis alba
Nigella
कलौंजी · Nigella sativa
Ajwain
अजवाइन · Trachyspermum ammi
Asafoetida
हींग · Ferula assa-foetida
Amchur
अमचूर · Mangifera indica (dried unripe mango)
White poppy seed
खसखस · Papaver somniferum (culinary seed)
Sesame seed
तिल · Sesamum indicum
Anise seed
सौंफ जैसा अनिस (Pimpinella) · Pimpinella anisum
Caraway
शाहजीरा (often confused with cumin) · Carum carvi
Dill seed
सूवा / सोल्वा · Anethum graveolens
Celery seed
अजवाइन जैसा सेलरी बीज · Apium graveolens
Dried garlic
लहसुन (सूखा) · Allium sativum
Kokum
कोकम · Garcinia indica
Guntur Sannam chilli
गुंटूर सन्नम मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Guntur Teja chilli
गुंटूर तेजा मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Resham Patti chilli
रेशम पट्टी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Ramnad Mundu chilli
रामनद मुंडू मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Aromatics & premium
Green cardamom
इलायची · Elettaria cardamomum
Black cardamom
बड़ी इलायची · Amomum subulatum
Clove
लौंग · Syzygium aromaticum
Cassia
दालचीनी (often labelled; confirm species) · Cinnamomum cassia
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
दालचीनी (true cinnamon — confirm species) · Cinnamomum verum
Saffron
केसर · Crocus sativus
Star anise
चक्र फूल · Illicium verum
Mace
जावित्री · Myristica fragrans (aril)
Nutmeg
जायफल · Myristica fragrans
Indian chillies
Kashmiri chilli
कश्मीरी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Dried red chilli (generic Indian)
सूखी लाल मिर्च · Capsicum annuum / Capsicum frutescens
Byadgi chilli
ब्याडगी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
S4 chilli
S4 मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
S10 chilli
S10 मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Mathania chilli
मथानिया मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Jwala chilli
ज्वाला मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Sankeshwari chilli
सांकेश्वरी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Mundu chilli
मुंडू मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Kanthari chilli
कंठारी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Bhut Jolokia
भुत जोलोकिया · Capsicum annuum
Boria chilli
बोरिया मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Dhani chilli
धानी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Salem chilli
सेलम मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Wonder Hot chilli
वंडर हॉट मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Longi chilli
लोंगी मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Tomato chilli
टमाटर मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Round chilli
गोल मिर्च · Capsicum annuum
Peppers
Rhizomes & roots
Leaves & herbs
Masalas & blends
Tamarind
इमली · Tamarindus indica
Garam Masala
गरम मसाला
Chaat Masala
चाट मसाला
Biryani Masala
बिरयानी मसाला
Tandoori Masala
तंदूरी मसाला
Chicken Masala
चिकन मसाला
Meat Masala
मीट मसाला
Fish Masala
फिश मसाला
Curry Masala
करी मसाला
Kitchen King
किचन किंग मसाला
Chole Masala
छोले मसाला
Rajma Masala
राजमा मसाला
Pav Bhaji Masala
पाव भाजी मसाला
Korma Masala
कोरमा मसाला
Butter Chicken Masala
बटर चिकन मसाला
Tikka Masala
टिक्का मसाला
Pickle Masala
अचार मसाला
Tea Masala
चाय मसाला
