Fruits Type Spices are actually the dried form of certain
fruits which are being used as
spice in the
Indian Cuisine. Spices derived from berries and fruits of
plants are used in very less quantity as it contains very high amount of flavouring agents. This may cause the dish turn into
bitter or
sour in
taste. When used right, small amounts of carefully considered spices can heighten, compliment and add complexity to the flavours of the fruit.
Some famous fruits type spices include cardamoms, kokam, nutmeg, mace and many more. They are described below;
Cardamom
Cardamoms are the dried fruits which are used as fruits type spices. It is derived from a small group of species or plants belonging to the family ‘
Zingiberaceae’, which contains seeds possessing a pleasant characteristic aroma. Broadly there are two types of Cardamoms, such as Small or Green Cardamom and Large or
Black Cardamom.
Kokam
Juniper fruits, also known as Kokam in India are one of the fruits type spices that are obtained by drying the ripe fruits. Kokam is better known for its edible fruits; this fruits type spice is consumed as fruit and
vegetable and when dry used as popular spice in the west coast of India.
Nutmeg and Mace
Nutmeg and Mace are two distinctly different fruits type spices produced from a single fruit. Mace is the dried reticulated aril of nutmeg. When the nutmeg bursts open, the Mace is seen as an attractive bright scarlet cage closely enveloping the hard, thin, black shining shell of the seed called Nutmeg.
Star Anise
Star Anise is a fruits type spices and has an agreeable, aromatic, sweet taste and a pleasant odour resembling anise. It is used as a condiment for flavouring
curries, confectioneries and for
pickling. It is also used in perfumery. This fruit type spice is chewed to sweeten the
bad breath and help in digestion.
Tamarind Pulp
The pulp of ripe fruit of Tamarind is commonly used as condiment in many
Indian dishes particularly
South Indian dishes.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a fruit type spice which was popularised in India for flavouring some
traditional sweets,
cakes and many others.
