The spice journal
How to choose, store and cook with Indian spices, from everyday tadka to festival sweets.
5 September 2026, in Festivals
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026: Modak Guide and Cardamom Tips
Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 falls on 14 September. Make ukadiche and fried modak with cardamom, get festive prasad tips and plan your festival cooking early.
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Cardamom in Savoury Cooking: Pulao, Korma, Dal and More
Cardamom in savoury cooking goes far beyond sweets. Try it in pulao, korma, dal, pepper-cardamom marinades, meat curries and a homemade chai masala blend.
26 August 2026, in Recipes
Regional Indian Spices: How 7 Kitchens Use Them
Regional Indian spices in seven kitchens: how Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bengal, Gujarat and Hyderabad use cardamom, pepper, clove and cinnamon.
12 August 2026, in Recipes
Spice Buyer's Glossary: Trade and Label Terms Explained
A plain-English spice buyer's glossary: what bold, graded, garbled, machine cleaned, volatile oil, moisture, best before and batch number really mean.
29 July 2026, in Quality
Spice Pairing Chart: Cardamom, Pepper, Clove, Cinnamon
A practical spice pairing chart for cardamom, black pepper, clove and cinnamon, matched to vegetables, dals, grains, paneer, chicken, fish, eggs and fruit.
15 July 2026, in Recipes
How to Tell If Spices Are Fresh: A Practical Home Guide
How to tell if spices are fresh: what essential oils do, simple smell, colour and crush tests, why sealing matters, and how long spices last after opening.
1 July 2026, in Quality
Papaya Seeds in Black Pepper: How to Spot the Fake
Papaya seeds in black pepper are a common adulteration. Learn how they differ in look, smell and taste, plus simple float and crush tests to try at home.
24 June 2026, in Quality
Biryani Whole Spices: What to Use and How Much Per Kilo
A biryani whole spices guide: how many cloves, cardamom pods and peppercorns per kilo of rice, when to add them, and how regional biryani styles differ.
10 June 2026, in Recipes
How Whole Spices Are Processed: From Harvest to Pack
How whole spices are processed, from harvest and drying to cleaning, grading and packing, and where quality is won or lost at each step along the way.
30 May 2026, in Quality
Cardamom Powder vs Whole Cardamom Pods: When to Use Which
Cardamom powder vs whole cardamom pods: when to use each, how many pods make a teaspoon, how their flavours differ and how to store both for best aroma.
20 May 2026, in Recipes
Masala Dabba Guide: How to Set Up an Indian Spice Box
A practical masala dabba guide: the seven spices to fill it with, whole vs ground, how to refill and clean it, and why a second box for whole spices helps.
6 May 2026, in Recipes
Cheap Cardamom: What Unusually Low Prices Can Hide
Cheap cardamom can hide immature, undersized, split or oil-extracted pods and added colour. Learn the warning signs and how to check pods before you buy.
29 April 2026, in Quality
Black Pepper Summer Recipes: Light Meals for Hot Days
Black pepper summer recipes for hot days: peppery raitas, salads, fruit chaat, grilled vegetables, lemon-pepper rice and a light curd rice tempering.
18 April 2026, in Recipes