Spices in Sri Lanka !!

Vanilla Beans - Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, after saffron. Vanilla pods, commonly called Vanilla beans, are the fruit of the Vanilla orchid. Vanilla is the only edible fruit of the orchid family, and is a true wonder of nature.

White Pepper - White pepper is the seed of the pepper plant, with the dark skin of the pepper fruit removed. The flavour of white pepper differs slightly from black pepper, due to the absence of certain compounds present in the outer fruit layer of the drupe, not found in the seed.

Black Pepper - Pepper has been a perennial favorite from time immemorial and is widely regarded as the King of the Spices and also one of mostly used spice in Sri Lanka, as it is the most popular and widely used spice in the world. The unique characteristic of Sri Lanka Pepper, is in its chemical composition, which gives it a distinctive aroma and flavour.

Cinnamon - Ceylon Cinnamon also known as True Cinnamon or Cinnamomum verum is indigenous to Sri Lanka. The spice is obtained from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum zeylinicum (derived from Sri Lanka's former name, Ceylon) tree. Sri Lanka produces 80-90% of the world's supply of True Cinnamon, highly valued for its unique characteristics, that makes it the worlds finest and sought after Cinnamon.

Cloves - Cloves are the aromatic flower buds of a tree in the family Myrtaceae, Syzygium aromaticum. Sri Lankan cloves are highly priced, as compared to other major producers, as the handpicked buds retain its exclusive physical shape and colour. This spice is a must for flavoring both sweet and savory foods in pickling and the production of sauces and ketchups.

Nutmeg - The Nutmeg tree belongs to the species of trees in genus Myristica and is a perennial evergreen spice tree that reaches about 50-60 feet in height. The Nutmeg is the seed of the tree, which has a warm, spicy aroma and flavour. It is used in both sweet and savoury cooking.

Coriander Leaves - This is an aromatic herb of the parsley family. It is sold in a bunch and can be grown at home. It is used both as an ingredient at the beginning of cooking and at the end as a decorative and aromatic garnish.

Tamarind - Tamarind's sour fruity taste adds a distinctive, refreshing flavour to curries of all kinds. Tamarind is widely used in India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Tamarind is sold as a soft block of pulp or as concentrate in a jar.

Turmeric - It is an aromatic powdered root of a plant grown in the West Indies and India. It is used mainly for colouring and is also used as an antiseptic.

Chillies -It is important to understand the use of chillies in the making of curries as they are an important ingredient. There are two varieties of chillies; the green variety, which is used fresh, and the red which is used in dried form. Chillies are an important source of Vitamin C. The green chillies are used in making salads and pickles or chutneys. In these preparations they are used raw. In some savouries they are used for cooking. Recipes usually indicate how the chillies are to be used, slit or chopped.

These are the top ten Spices in Sri Lanka

Rahaventhan Kaliappan
You can buy all these spices at maksoverseasholdings.com - Spices in Sri Lanka

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rahaventhan_Kaliappan

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9146488