How to Check the Quality of Spices?
Spices are like icing on any dish, enhancing its flavours and having amazing nutritional value. The culture of spices originated in many countries, but mainly it came from the Indian subcontinent. The world is adopting the use of spices in their household kitchens.
So, if you're looking forward to determining the qualities of spices, there are a few easy checks. So, dive in here to know all the methods to Check the Quality of Spices (Buy whole spice online also check out deggi mirch).
Perform Some SELF TESTS to Assess the Quality of Spices
Every spice has unique flavours, tastes and qualities. So, one of the most common tips to check the quality is to crush them in your hands and review for the aroma. Taj Spices quality whole spices will have a unique scent.
TIP: The spices may change their colour over time. So, it's not the factor to consider its true quality.
So, dive in here to perform the quality of the most used spices:
1. Green Cardamom
Green Cardamom has a beautiful aroma and is widely used in tea and food to enhance the flavours. But, apart from that, it has some great qualities which improve digestive health. So, colour is one of the major facts that help you determine its quality.
A healthy pod of Cardamom can have a yellowish-green to green colour. Be wary of too much dark green colour as it can be an artificial coating. In addition, a strong yellow colour means the pod has dried out and is very mature. Then, open and rub it in the palm, looking for any colour residue. If there's no colour, you're good to go!
2. Black Pepper
The king of spices, the most beneficial Black Pepper, can easily be degraded. Black Pepper looks different for various species, but a general test can determine their quality.
Break and rub the corn in hand, look for any colour, and experience its aroma. Also, take a glass full of water or alcohol and dip a handful of peppercorns. If the peppercorns settle in the glass, it's pure and good.
Suppose it floats on the water's surface; it is adulterated with pumpkin seeds. Power up your diet with crushed or amazing Black Pepper powder by adding it to salads, pasta, tea, soups etc. It has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which boost heart, gut and brain health.
3. Cumin Seeds
There are two ways to test whole Cumin seeds, which determine their quality accurately. First, rub the Cumins vigorously in your plans. If your palms turn grey or black, it surely has additives.
The second method is to add a few fresh aromatic Cumin seeds and put them in a glass of water. The pure Cumin seed will settle, while the fake ones will float on the surface.
Cumin has lots of benefits and is an important ingredient in Indian kitchens. The aromatic Cumin seed powder can be added to any dish and used to prepare sauces, spice powders etc.
The flavour is very strong and unique. It fights diseases like cancer and other parasitic diseases. Also, it's good for stomach, cholesterol, and weight loss and has lots of antioxidants.
4. Star Anise
The pure Star Anise is a beautiful start shaped wooden spice that significantly enhances the flavours. It has eight wings and seeds. When you break it, you may notice greasiness in your fingers.
It is brittle and too dark; Star Anise may be old and have lost its aroma. You can easily store the flavourful whole Star Anise in an airtight container for over a year. A powder may lose the smell, so a whole one is advisable.
Star Anise is a fantastic hormone regulator and has infection fighting qualities. In addition, it boosts the immune system and helps to regulate the sleep cycle. It has many other benefits and goes well with many dishes, teas, and soups.
5. Cinnamon
True Cinnamon is usually swapped with Cassia. The sweet and strong true Cinnamon is very thin and breakable. In contrast, the Cassia is overpowering and very hard. The real Cinnamon has a lighter, soft texture, and it's narrower in circumference than typical Cinnamon barks. So, check out if you're not buying Cassia.
Cinnamon is a great ingredient that boosts immunity, makes your heart strong and has remarkable antioxidant and antifungal properties. So, relish it in your food by crushing it. It's widely used in tea cakes and reflects a strong yet sweet taste.
6. Cloves
Cloves are wonderful spices having a strong fragrance and amazing health benefits. The unadulterated Cloves settle down in a glass full of water. The floating ones are adulterated and fake. Also, they have a woody texture which is reddish-brown and has a strong aroma. So, check for these qualities to enhance your dishes.
The fine quality Cloves have good nutrient value. Also, it fights cancers and stomach ulcers and is good for blood sugar. It has great benefits as it fights diseases and keeps check on bone density. So, include a healthy aromatic punch in your tea, soups, meats, etc.
7. Asafoetida
The strong aroma of a pinch of Asafoetida in the food will refresh your food. It has great benefits for the digestive tract and has great anti-inflammatory and bacterial properties. So, take a pinch of Asafoetida and add it to a glass of water. The impurities will settle in the glass while the pure ones will stay up. The strong and aromatic Asafoetida will do wonders to the dish and your health.
8. Mustard Seeds
Mustard seeds are mixed with argemone seeds as they look the same. So, crush the Mustard seed if it's white; it's argemone seeds. The Mustard seeds are yellow from the inside. It's packed with several nutrients and good for bone, teeth and nail health. Like all spices, high quality Mustard seeds also have great anti-inflammatory and bacterial properties.
Smart Tips to buy Spices
Here are some tips for buying spices:
- You can go for whole spices as the chances are less of adultering them.
- If you're buying the ground spices, always go for authentic online and offline stores.
- Buy the species in one go from your trusted source.
- Always check for the shape and colour of the species and their peculiar aromas.
