indian spices

List of Indian spices
Below is a list of spices and other flavoring substances commonly used in India

Indian Common Name English Name Hindi Name Other Languages Remarks
Adrak Ginger अदरक అల్లం, ਅਦਰਕ, இஞ்சி, আদা ada, അന്ദ്രകം, पाएँ, ಶುಂಠಿ Used as fresh and also Dried Powder form, see "Sonth"
Aamchur/Amchoor powder Sour Mango powder आमचूर ఆమ్చూర్,మామిడికాయ పొడి
Achar Indian Pickle अचार ಉಪ್ಪಿನಕಾಯಿ,ఊరగాయ, আচার, ஊறுகாய்
Ajmud Celery / Radhuni seed अज्मुद వాము, അയമോദകം, அசம்டவோமன், ಅಜಮೊಧವೋಮ, अज्मोदा, রাধুনী radhuni
Ajmoda Parsley अजमोदा
Ajwain Carom seed अज़वाइन వాము, ஓமம், জবান, યવાનો, जवानो, ਐਜਵਾਇਨ, അയമോദകം
Amla Indian gooseberry आँवला ನೆಲ್ಲಿಕಾಯಿ,ఉసిరి కాయ / పప్పు, நெல்லிக்காய்
Anardana Pomegranate seed अनारदाना దానిమ్మ గింజలు Dried not fresh
Bazil spice powder बाजील
Badam Almond बादाम బాదాం, বাদাম, பாதாம்
Choti Elaichi Green cardamom छोटी इलाइची ఏలకులు, এলাচি elachi, ஏலக்காய்
Badi Elaichi Black cardamom बड़ी इलाइची
Chakra Phool Star anise चक्र फूल बदल फुल, అనసపువ్వు
Chironji Charoli चिरोंजी సార పప్పు a type of nut particularly used in making desserts
Camiki Mango extract कामिकी
Dalchini Cinnamon दालचीनी ಚಕ್ಕೆ,దాల్చిన చెక్క, দারচিনি darchini
Dhania Coriander seed धनिया ಧನಿಯಾ (ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಬೀಜ),ధనియాలు, ধনে dhone , மல்லி
Garam Masala Spice mixture गरम मसाला ಗರಂ ಮಸಾಲ,గరం మసాలా, গরম মশলা gôrom môshla
Gulab Jal Rose water गुलाब जल పన్నీరు, গোলাপ জল golap jôl
Gur Unrefined Sugar (Jaggery) गुड़ ಬೆಲ್ಲ,బెల్లము, গুড় guṛ, வெல்லம் / கருப்பட்டி from the sap of the sugarcane or date palm
Haldi Turmeric हल्दी ಅರಿಶಿನ,పసుపు, হলুদ/হলদে holud/holde,மஞ்சள் (பொடி)
Hari dhaniya Coriandergreen हरी धनिया ಕೊತ್ತಂಬರಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,కొత్తిమీర , கொத்தமல்லி (இலை) Fresh green leaves
Harad / hime myrobalan chabulic हरद కరక చెట్టు, கடுக்காய்
Hari Mirch Green Chili हरी मिर्च ಹಸಿ ಮೆಣಸಿನಕಾಯಿ,పచ్చి మిరపకాయలు, কাঁচা মরিচ kãcha morich
Dhania powder/ Pisa Dhania Coriander powder धनिया पावडर/पिसा धनिया ధనియాల పొడి, ধনে গুঁড়া
Hing Asafoetida हींग ఇంగువ, হিং, பெருங்காயம்
Imli Tamarind इमली చింతపండు, তেঁতুল tetul, புளி
Jaiphal Nutmeg जैफल జాజికాయ,ஜாதிக்காய், জয়ফল
Javitri Mace जावित्री జాపత్రి Mace Spice is derived from Nutmeg tree
Jeera Cumin seed ज़ीरा జీలకర్ర, জিরা,சீரகம்
Jeera Goli Cumin seed grounded into balls ज़ीरा गोली 'జీలకర్ర వుండ'
Jethimadh Licorice powder जेठीमध యష్టిమధుక్కం
Kachra Capers कचरा, कब्र, करेर మరాఠీ మొగ్గు, ముముదాటు, கரியல், ಮರಾಠಿ ಮೊಗ್ಗು , ਕਰਿਆ also known as Kabra, Karer in Hindi
Kadipatta Curry Tree or Sweet Neem leaf करीपत्ता / कदिपत्ता కరివేప ఆకు, கறிவேப்பிலை
Kaju Cashewnut काजू జీడి పప్పు, কাজুবাদাম,முந்திரி
Kala Namak / Sanchal Black salt काला नमक / संचल నల్ల ఉప్పు, বিট লবণ Rock salt
Kali Elaichi Black Cardamom काली इलाइची నల్ల ఏలకులు
Kali Mirchi Black pepper काली मिर्च నల్ల మిరియాలు, গোল মরিচ gol morich,மிளகு
Kalonji Nigella seed कालोंजी నల్ల జీలకర్ర, কালো জিরা kalo jira
Kasoori Methi Dried Fenugreek leaf कसूरी मेथी మెంతి ఆకులు, வெந்தய கீரை menthi aakulu,
Katira Goond Tragacanth Gum कटीरा गूंद
Kebab Cheeni Allspice कॅबाब चीनी কাবাব চিনি kabab chini
Kesar, Zaafraan Saffron केसर, जाफरान కుంకుమ పువ్వు, জাফরান jafran
Kesar miri miri Saffron pulp केसर मिरी मिरी కుంకుమ పూల పొడి
Khajur Dates खज़ूर, খেজুর ఖర్జూరం
Kokum Garcinia indica कोकम
Khus Khus Poppy seed खस खस గసగసాలు,ಗಸಗಸೆ , পোস্ত দানা posto dana, கச கசா
Kudampuli Garcinia gummi-gutta कोकम കുടംപുളി, கொறுக்காய்ப்புளி Used in fish preparations of Kerala
Lahsun Garlic लहसुन vellulli paaya, রসুন roshun,பூண்டு
Lal Mirchi Red Chilli लाल मिर्ची మిరప కాయలు, লাল মরিচ lal morich,மிளகாய் வத்தல்
Lavang Cloves लवाँग lavangam, లవంగం, লং/লবঙ্গ lông/lôbonggo, கிராம்பு
Kali Mirch Peppercorns काली मिर्च miriyalu, மிளகு, మిరియాలు
Methi leaves Fenugreek leaf मेथी पत्ता మెంతి ఆకులు, মেথি পাতা methi pata,வெந்தய கீரை
Methi seeds Fenugreek seed मेथी सीड्स మెంతులు, মেথি methi,வெந்தயம்
Naaga Keshar नागा केशर
Namak Salt नमक ఉప్పు, লবণ/নুন lôbon/nun,உப்பு
Nimbu Lemon / Lime नींबू 'నిమ్మ కాయ', লেবু lebu,எலுமிச்சை
Pudina Mint पुदीना পুদিনা,புதினா
Pyaz / Ganda Onion प्याज़ / गांडा ఉల్లి పాయ, পেঁয়াজ peaj,பல்லாரி வெங்காயம்
Panch Phoron पञ्च फोरों পাঁচ ফোড়ন pãch foṛon This is a Bengali spice mix that combines aniseed, cumin, fenugreek, mustard and nigella
Pathar Ka Phool Black Stone Flower पत्थर के फूल కల్లుపచి, दगड फुल
Pippali Long pepper पिप्पलि ಹಿಪ್ಪಲಿ, கண்டந்திப்பிலி, అనాసపువ్వు
Peeli Mirchi Yellow Pepper पीली मिर्ची
Rai Black Mustard Seed राइ ఆవాలు, கடுகு, রাই
Ratin jot Alkanet root रातीं जोट
Safed Mirchi White Pepper सफ़ेद मिर्च తెల్ల మిరియాలు
Saji na phool Citric acid सजी न फूल
Sarson mustard seed सरसो, ఆవాలు, సరసావాలు, শরষে shorshe
Sarson Tel Mustard oil सरसो तेल ఆవ నూనె, শরষের তেল shorsher tel
Saunf/Sanchal Fennel seed सौंफ / संचल సోంపు, সঁওফ/মৌরি sôof/mouri,பெறுஞ்சீரகம்
Shahi Jeera Black cumin seed शाही जीरा నల్ల జీలకర్ర smaller in size than regular
Sirka Vinegar सिरका সির্কা
Soa sag Dill सोया साग శతపుష్పము, వకతరహా తోటకూర , சதகுப்பி, குப்பை, ചതകുപ്പ,ಸಬ್ಬಸಿಗಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಸಬ್ಬಸಿಗೆ ಬೀಜ
Sonth Dried ginger सोंठ సొంఠి, சுக்கு mostly powdered
Suwa or Shopa Aniseed सुव्वा / शोप సోంపు
Taj Cinnamon ताज దాల్చిన చెక్క ,பட்டை
Tartri Citric acid तरतरी
Tej Patta Malabathrum, Bay Leaf तेज पत्ता బిర్యానీ ఆకు, তেজ পাতা tej pata Both Malabathrum and Bay Leaf are similar and called as Tej Patta in Hindi. however, they are from two different families with difference in taste
Til Sesame seed तिल నువ్వులు, তিল,எள்ளு
Shimla Mirch Capsicum शिमला मिर्च
Tulsi Holy Basil तुल्सी తులసి, తులసి ఆకు, তুলসী,துளசி

vir savarkar

Vinayak Damodar 'Veer' Savarkar is back in the news, 38 years after he passed into the ages.
The late champion of Hindutva returned to the headlines when Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar [ Images ] recently ordered the removal of a plaque with a message by Savarkar from the historical Cellular Jail on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Aiyar also criticised Savarkar, leading to the Shiv Sena [ Images ] and Bharatiya Janata Party [ Images ] in Maharashtra demanding an apology from the Congress MP.
Who was Veer Savarkar? What was his role in India's freedom movement? Why is he so controversial? We present a primer on the controversial revolutionary.
Who was he?
Savarkar (1883 to 1966) was a revolutionary who spent many years in prison in the Andamans. He propounded the philosophy of Hindutva and was linked to Mahatma Gandhi's [ Images ] assassination, but was not found guilty.
What was his early life like?
He was born on May 28, 1883, in Bhagpur village near Nashik. After his parents died young, his elder brother Ganesh looked after the family.
In 1898, the British hanged the Chapekar brothers in Pune for killing a British officer. This had a deep impact on the teenaged Savarkar, who decided to take up armed struggle against the British.
In 1901, he joined the Ferguson College in Pune and set up the Abhinav Bharat Society, which preached a revolutionary struggle against the British.
He also won a scholarship that took him to Britain to study law in 1906.
Did he not write a book on the First War of Independence?
In Britain, Savarkar organised students and advocated an armed struggle to throw the British out of India. He also wrote his book on the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, which he called India's First War of Independence, a terminology the Indian government accepted after Independence.
Since there was no question of printing the book in Britain, it was printed in Holland and copies of it were smuggled into India.
The book was a huge success, giving Indians a strong sense of pride, providing a fresh perspective on a war that was till then merely seen as the outcome of disgruntled Indian soldiers in the service of the British.
The second edition was published by Indians in the US while Bhagat Singh printed the third edition.
Its translations were a big success: the Punjabi and Urdu translations traveled far and wide while the Tamil translation almost becoming mandatory reading for soldiers of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army -- a majority of who were Tamilians from Southeast Asia.
When was he arrested?
In Britain, he also created a network of like-minded individuals. Given his anti-British activities, the police soon came looking for him.
He was arrested in London [ Images ] on March 13, 1910 and sent to India to face trial.
Didn't he escape from the ship?
The story that made Savarkar a national hero!
The ship in which he was being taken to India berthed at Marseilles, France [ Images ], on July 8, 1910.
Savarkar wriggled out of the porthole and swam a great distance in the cold water to reach the shore.
He had earlier told his friends, including Madame Bhikaji Cama, to meet him at Marseilles, but they arrived late and the British recaptured him.
Since Savarkar did not speak French, he was unable to tell the local policeman that he was a refugee. Even though he could not escape, this story resonated across India.
He was tried, and on December 24, 1910, sentenced to 50 years in prison.
On July 4, 1911, he was sent to Port Blair's Cellular Jail.
50 years! That must have been very tough.
It certainly was. Savarkar's supporters always point to his incredibly difficult and degrading days in jail, sentenced to rigorous imprisonment when he was in the prime of life; placed in solitary confinement while other leaders had it much easier and were released whenever their health failed or someone in the family fell ill.
Savarkar enjoyed no such luxury.
How long was he in prison?
In 1920, Vithalbhai Patel -- Vallabhbhai Patel's elder brother -- demanded Savarkar's release, a demand also backed by Gandhi and Nehru.
On May 2, 1921, Savarkar was shifted from the Cellular Jail, first to the Alipore Jail in Bengal and then to Ratnagiri Jail in western Maharashtra.
He was released on January 6, 1924 on the condition that he would not leave Ratnagiri district, which is not very far from Mumbai [ Images ] (then Bombay), till 1937.
Why did the British release him from prison?
Up to this point, most historians regardless of ideology would agree that Savarkar was a committed revolutionary, even if one does not support the notion of an armed struggle.
But from the point of his release from jail, Savarkar becomes a divided figure, either loved or loathed.
Savarkar agreed he would abstain from political activities to facilitate his release.
His supporters say he only made such promises to get out of prison and that he remained committed to throwing the British out of India.
What did he do on getting out of jail?
He became active in the Hindu Mahasabha, founded in 1915, which sought to protect the interests of Hindus.
The Hindu Mahasabha, which differed radically from the Indian National Congress, attracted followers who were either opposed to Gandhi and the Congress, or believed in Hindutva.
It is not clear why Savarkar joined the Mahasabha, though given his dislike for non-violence and his assurance to the British, joining the Congress was out of question.
So he became a champion for Hindutva?
Savarkar, who popularised the term 'First War of Independence', also coined the term Hindutva when he wrote an eponymous book.
The book outlined the features of Hindutva, including its economic, social, and political aspects.
He also wrote another book in English, Hindupadpadshahi, extolling the Maratha rule over India.
He had developed and expounded the notion of one nation, one culture, bound by blood and race. In 1937, he became president of the Hindu Mahasabha, and remained in the post till 1943.
Is it true he did not support the Quit India movement?
The Hindu Mahasabha, under Savarkar's presidency, did not support the Quit India movement launched in August 1942.
Savarkar also asked Hindus to help the British in their war effort against Germany [ Images ] and Japan [ Images ].
His supporters say this was a tactic to get more Hindus to pick up military training that could have been turned against the British later.
He was not alone. The Communist Party of India and Muslim League also did not support the Quit India movement.
Was Savarkar linked to Gandhi's assassination?
Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte, the two main accused, were known to Savarkar and frequently visited him.
After Gandhi's assassination, mobs stoned Savarkar's home in Bombay, where he had shifted to from Ratnagiri.
Savarkar was arrested, but he alone was set free for lack of evidence.
Savarkar's supporters deny any link to the Mahatma's assassination, insisting that Godse and Apte acted on their own.
What is his legacy?
For his supporters, Savarkar believed in a strong Hindu society and in the Hindutva ideology of one nation, one culture, one people, which meant no special provisions for any minority.
For his opponents, this ideology divides India today by trying to deny the minorities a rightful place in Indian society.
As the bitter political battle over Aiyar's decision reveals, the controversy over Veer Savarkar's legacy is far from concluded.
Image: Rahil Shaikh
Amberish K Diwanji in New Delhi