Spices and Condiments: Spices and condiments play an important role in every individual’s life. Have you ever wondered how mom prepares delicious food daily? Which ingredients are added to the different delicacies she makes? Yes, Spices and Condiments are the main reason for the tasty food and aroma. Have you ever researched spices meaning? Spices and condiments are known as one of the most remarkable ingredients in many types of cuisine in the world.

Generally, spices are food ingredients mainly used to season a food dish during its preparation. In contrast, condiments are primarily used at the dining table to enhance the flavours of a dish. This is the main difference between spices and condiments. Spices share some similarities with condiments, but they do have some key differences as well. So in this article, let us explore the classification of spices, spices meaning, name a condiment that will enhance your experience and the importance and uses of various spices and condiments used in India.

Spices and Condiments: What are Spices?

Spices Meaning: What are spices? Spices are generally food ingredients. Spices example, many parts of the plant like fruit, leaves, seed, root, bark, berry, bud, flower or vegetable substance are used as a flavouring, colouring or preserving agent in food.

Condiments meaning: Condiments are plant products that are used for instant flavouring of food or adjuncts of food. It is mainly added to food immediately before consumption to impart flavour, aroma and zest to food. To name a condiment, Soya sauce, chilly sauce, pickles, mustards, etc., are considered condiments.

Spices Examples: Functions and Properties

1. Spices act as antioxidants.
2. Spices act as antimicrobial compounds.
3. India contributes \(75\% \) of spice production throughout the world and the world spice market.
4. Cinnamon, Cassia, nutmeg, mace, fennel, mustard, black pepper, etc., are examples of spices.
5. Spice is an aromatic or pungent plant part used to add flavour and aroma to the food.
6. Spices are added at the initial stage of food preparation.
7. We can categorise spices into simple and complex spices and use them in the preparation of condiments.

Condiments: Functions and Properties

1. Condiments help to enhance colour.
2. Condiments help to enhance flavour.
3. The condiment trade is the second biggest market in speciality foods after cheese.
4. Barbecue sauce, compound butter, teriyaki sauce, SOV sauce, marmite, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, etc., are examples of condiments.
5. Food ingredients such as salt, mustard, or pickle are used to add only taste to the food.
6. Condiments are added to the serving bowl immediately before serving to enhance the taste of the food.
7. Condiments are categorised based on their botany.

Significance of Spices and Condiments

1. Essential oils and oleoresins are widely used in seasoning foods and imparting aroma, flavour and taste to the food products.
2. These products are also used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
3. They are used as colourant or dye in cotton textiles, tobacco industries, bakery products, condiments, and meat and fish products.
4. Even now, its usage in the preparation of Ayurvedic medicines is uncountable.
5. Value-added products are in great demand in the food industry.
6. It is a low volume and high-value crop.
7. India has diverse soil and climate & several agro-ecological regions, which provides the opportunity to grow various spice crops.
8. Spice crops play a unique role in India’s economy by improving the income of the rural people.
9. The cultivation of these crops is labour intensive, generating a lot of employment opportunities for the rural population.
10. The demand for Indian spice is very much in other countries. Hence we have very much scope to meet that demand by huge production.

Spices and Condiments: Uses

1. The principal use of spices is to season the bland foods to impart flavour, aroma and taste.
2. They are also used as preservatives and fumigants.
3. Spices also find use in pharmacy and indigenous medicines.
4. Spices are also used in perfumery, soaps, cosmetics, toothpaste, confectionery, incense, dyes, etc.

Spices: Classification

Spices Common Name	Scientific Names of Spices	Family of Spices	Classification of Spices
Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Zingiberaceae	rhizome
Cinnamon	Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Lauraceae	bark
Cloves	Eugenia caryophyllata	Myrtaceae	dried flower buds
Saffron	Crocus sativus	Iridae	style and stigmas
Chillies	Capsicum frutescens	Solanaceae	Berry
Pepper black and white	Piper nigrum	Piperaceae	Berry
Caraway	Carum carvi	Umbelliferae	Cremocarps
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum	Umbelliferae	Cremocarps
Fennel	Foeniculum vulgare	Umbelliferae	Cremocarps
Cardamom	Elettaria cardamomum	Zingiberaceae	Seeds
Fenugreek	Trigonella feomumgraecum	Fabaceae	Seeds
Mustard	Brassica nigra	Cruciferae	Seeds

Summary

Spices and Condiments both are essential culinary ingredients, and they are vital in our daily diet. We need to incorporate them into our meals to enhance their flavour, colour, and nutritional value. India contributes \(75\% \) of spice production globally, and the world spice market is continuously growing. The condiment trade is the second biggest market in speciality foods after that of cheese. Almost all the countries used spices in ancient times, and the trade of spice developed throughout South Asia and the Middle East in about \(2000\) BCE with mainly cinnamon and pepper.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Spices and Condiments

Frequently asked questions related to spices and condiments are listed as follows:

Q.1. Name a few Spices and Condiments.
Ans: Cardamom, Pepper, Fennel, Fenugreek, Soya sauce, chilly sauce, etc., are a few examples of spices and condiments.

Q.2. Define Spices.
Ans: Spices are being used as staple dietary additives for a long time. Spices are generally food ingredients. Many parts of the plant like fruit, leaves, seed, root, bark, berry, bud, flower or vegetable substance are used as a flavouring, colouring or preserving agent in food.

Q.3. What is the major function of Spices and Condiments?
Ans: Spices and Condiments contain essential oils, which provide taste, aroma and flavour to the food. Spices are frequently used to heighten the culinary appeal. They also play a major role in preserving food in the kitchen. They also add a little nutritive value to daily life.

Q.4. What are the uses of Spices and Condiments?
Ans: Few uses of spices and condiments are:

1. The principal use of spices is to season the bland foods to impart flavour, aroma and taste.
2. They are also used as preservatives and fumigants.
3. Spices also find use in pharmacy and indigenous medicines.
4. Spices are also used in perfumery, soaps, cosmetics, toothpaste, confectionery, incense, dyes, etc.
5. Black pepper acts as a savoury dish in a small amount.
6. Garlic powder, Cinnamon powder plays a major role in digestion.
7. Toppings of cloves on the lemon prevent mosquito entries in the house.
8. Traditionally black pepper is used to cure joint pains, tooth decay, liver disorders, hernia, etc.

Q.5. What is the scientific name of spice Cinnamon?
Ans: Cinnamomum zeylanicum is the scientific name of the spice Cinnamon.

We hope this detailed article on Spices and Condiments helps you in your preparation. If you get stuck do let us know in the comments section below and we will get back to you at the earliest.

Embibe wishes all the candidates the best of luck for the upcoming examination.