Indian Spice List Translation: English and Hindi

When many people think of spices, they inevitably think of India. Walk into any Indian restaurant and
you will smell the wonderful aroma of spices being prepared and cooked in the kitchen. The same
holds true if you are lucky enough to visit a traditional Indian home kitchen and have a home-cooked
meal.

Probably more than any other cuisine, Indian cooking calls for the extensive use of many wonderful
spices, from cloves, to cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, and coriander. The proper use and balance of
these aromatic spices is what makes Indian food so tasty and unique.

Here are some facts about Indian spices that are fascinating:

The ISO (International Organization of Standardization) lists a total of 109 spices that are used in the
world, and India produces at least 75 of them.

India is the largest user, producer, and exporter of spices in the world.

The global spice market is worth $15 billion and India’s share is worth a whopping $5 billion.

India produces 30% of the world’s pepper, 35% of the world’s ginger, and 90% of the world’s
turmeric.

Kerala is the state in India that produces the most spices of any Indian state

On 20th of May, 1498 is when the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in India and that
marked the beginning of the formal spice trade.

Spices were highly sought after and many wars and battles were fought over them.

Pepper has been used for over 4000 years and was so valuable that it was referred to as Black Gold
and often used as a form of currency and payment.

Pepper is the most used spice in the world.

Many people know that saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. But cardamom is also one
of the most expensive.

In the 17th and 18th centuries in Britain, cloves were worth their weight in gold because they were
so sought after.

Chilies, garlic, turmeric, and ginger are the most grown spices in India.
 English

Hindi

Allspice / Kabab Cheene

Aniseed /Saunf ke beej

Asafoetida / Hing

Basil seeds / sabja/subja

Bay Leaf / Tej Patta

Black Cumin Seeds / kaala jeera

Black Salt / kaala namak

Capers / kabra kannada

Caraway Seeds / shahi jeera

Cardamom (Black) / badi elaichi

Cardamom (Green) /elaichi

Cardamom Seeds / elaichi dana

Carom seeds, thymol, Celery seeds / ajwain

Cassia Buds / nagkeshar

Char Magaz / Char Magaz

Chili (Green, Fresh) / hari mirch

Chili (Red, Fresh) / Mirchi powder (lal mirch)

Chili Powder / lal mirch paudar

Cinnamon / dalchini

Cloves / laung or lavang

Coriander, Cilantro seeds / Sabut Dhania

Coconut (Desiccated or Dry) image

sukha/sookha naariyal

Coconut (Fresh) image

naariyal

Cocum/Kokum image

bhirinda or bhirnda

Coriander Powder image

dhania paudar

Coriander Seeds image

sabut dhania

Coriander leaves (Cilantro) image

dhania patta

Cubeb

sheetal chini

Cumin Powder image

jeera paudar

Cumin Seeds image

jeera

Curry Leaves image

kari patta or kadipatha

Dry Green mango powder / Amchoor

Fennel Seeds image saunf

Fenugreek Leaves image

saag methi

Fenugreek Leaves (Dry) image

kasuri methi

Fenugreek Seeds image

methi
Garam Masala image

Garam Masala

Garlic image

lasson or lahsun

Ginger (Dry) image

Saunth

Ginger (Fresh) image

Adrakh

Gooseberry, Indian image

amla

Holy Basil image

Tulsi/Tulasi

Jaggery image

gur/gud

Jakhya (dog/wild mustard) image

jakhya

Licorice image

mulethi

Lime image

mulethi

Lime Peel image

neebu/nimbu ka chilka

Mace image

javitri/javitra

Mango Powder image

Amchur/Aamchoor

Mint image

Podina, Pudina

Mustard Seeds (Brown) image

Rai

Mustard Seeds (Yellow) image

Sarson

Nigella (Black Onion) Seeds image

Kalonji

Nutmeg image

Jaiphal

Palm Jaggery image

tara gura

Peanuts image

moongaphalee

Pepper (Black) image

Kali mirch

Pepper (White) image

Saphed mirch

Pine Nuts image

chilgoze/nioze

Pomegranate Seeds image

anardana

Poppy Seeds image

khuskhus/khaskhas

Raisins image

kismish

Rock Flower/Stone Flower

pathar phool

Saffron image

kesar/kunkuma

Salt image

namak

Salt (Rock Salt) image

sendha namak

Screwpine/Pandanus image

pulao patti
Sesame Seeds image

til

Sichuan Pepper image

tirphal/timur

Star Anise image

chakraphool

Sultana image

munakka

Tamarind image

imli

Turmeric image

haldi

Vetiver image

khus

Vinegar image

sirka

Watermelon Seeds image

tarbuj ke beej

Hindi English

Adrakh

Ginger (Fresh)

Ajwain

Carom Seeds

Amchur/Aamchoor

Mango Powder

Amla

Gooseberry, Indian

Anardana

Pomegranate Seeds

badi elaichi
Cardamom (Black)

bhirinda or bhirnda

Cocum/Kokum

Chakraphool

Star Anise

Char Magaz

Char Magaz

chilgoze/nioze

Pine Nuts

Dalchini

Cinnamon

dhania patta

Coriander leaves (Cilantro)

dhania paudar

Coriander Powder

Elaichi

Cardamom (Green)

elaichi dana

Cardamom Seeds

Garam Masala

Garam Masala

gur/gud

Jaggery

Haldi

Turmeric

hari mirch

Chili (Green, Fresh)

Hing

Asafoetida

Imli

Tamarind
Jaiphal

Nutmeg

Jakhya

Jakhya (dog/wild mustard)

javitri/javitra

Mace

Jeera

Cumin Seeds

jeera paudar

Cumin Powder

kaala jeera

Black Cumin Seeds

kaala namak

Black Salt

Kabab Cheene

Allspice

kabra kannada

Capers

Kali mirch

Pepper (Black)

Kalonji

Nigella (Black Onion) Seeds

kari patta or kadipatha

Curry Leaves

kasuri methi

Fenugreek Leaves (Dry)

kesar/kunkuma

Saffron

Khus

Vetiver

khuskhus/khaskhas
Poppy Seeds

Kismish

Raisins

lal mirch

Chili (Red, Fresh)

kesar/kunkuma

Saffron

Khus

Vetiver

khuskhus/khaskhas

Poppy Seeds

Kismish

Raisins

lal mirch

Chili (Red, Fresh)

lal mirch paudar

Chili Powder

lasson or lahsun

Garlic

laung or lavang

Cloves

Methi

Fenugreek Seeds

Moongaphalee

Peanuts

MulethiLicorice

Munakka

Sultana

Naariyal

Coconut (Fresh)

Nagkeshar
Cassia Buds

Namak

Salt

neebu/nimbu

Lime

neebu/nimbu ka chilka

Lime Peel

pathar phool

Rock Flower/Stone Flower

Podina, Pudina

Mint

pulao patti

Screwpine/Pandanus

Rai

Mustard Seeds (Brown)

saag methi

Fenugreek Leaves

sabja/subja

Basil seeds

sabut dhania

Coriander Seeds

Saphed mirch

Pepper (White)

Sarson

Mustard Seeds (Yellow)

Saunf

Fennel seed

Saunf ke beej Aniseed

Saunth

Ginger (Dry)
sendha namak

Salt (Rock Salt)

shahi jeera

Caraway Seeds

sheetal chini

Cubeb

Sirka

Vinegar

sukha/sookha naariyal

Coconut (Desiccated or Dry)

tara gura

Palm Jaggery

tarbuj ke beej

Watermelon Seeds

Tej Patta

Bay Leaf

Til

Sesame Seeds

tirphal/timur

Sichuan Pepper

Tulsi/Tulasi

Holy Basil

Glossary of Indian Spices in English, Tamil and Hindi

EnglishTamilHindi

AsafoetidaPerungayamHing

Aniseed/FennelSombu

SaunfBlack Cumin SeedsKarun jiragamShahjeeraBay leafBrinji IlaiTej PattaBlack saltInduppuKala

NamakCardamomElakkaiIlaichiCinnamonPattaiDalchiniClovesKrambuLavangCoriander
seedsKothamalli vidhaiSukha DhaniaCoriander PowderMalli podiPisa
DhaniaChilliesMilagaiMirchiChilli powderMilagai PodiLal Mirch PowderCumin
SeedsJeeragamJeeraCoriander leavesKothamalli thalaiDhaniya pattēCarom seeds OmamAjwainCurry
LeavesKaruveppilaiKadhi pattaDry gingerSukkuSonthDry mango powderMangai
PodiAmchurFenugreek seedsVendayamMethi DanaGreen chilliPachai MilagaiHari
MirchGingerIngiAdrakGarlicPoonduLehsunHoly BasilTulasiTulsiMaceJathikai tholJavitriMint
leavesPudinaPudinaMustard seedsKaduguRaiNutmegJathikaiJaiphalOnion SeedsVengaya
vithaiKalonjiPeppercornsMilaguKali MirchPoppy seedsKasa kasaKhus KhusPomegranate
SeedsMathalam vidhaiAnardanaRed ChilliMilagai vathalLal MirchiSaffronKungumapooKesarSesame
seedsElluTilStar AniseAnnachi mokkuChakra PhoolTurmericManjalHaldiTamarindPuliImliWhite
PepperVellai milaguSafed Mirchi

Coriander Powder– Clean and dry coriander seeds in the sun. Then get it ground in the flour mill.
Alternatively, you can dry roast coriander seeds in a pan on medium flame until you get a nice aroma
of roasted coriander seeds. Cool and powder it. The seeds can be powdered either by roasting them
or without roasting them. They give different flavors to the curries.

Cumin Powder – Dry roast cumin seeds in a pan and then grind it to a fine powder. You can use the
coffee grinder or mixie for powdering it. Store it in an air tight container.

Red Chilli Powder -Dry Red chillies in the sun and give it in the flour mill for dry grinding. It is
available ready made.

Garam Masala Powder -Garam masala- Garam means “hot” and masala means a “mixture of spices”
is a blend of ground spices common in North Indian and other South Asian cuisines. Each state has its
own spice blend or masala powder. Refer Kerala Garam Masala powder. More will be posted soon.

Turmeric Powder – It is used in almost all curries and dals. It imparts flavor and color to the dishes. It
has lot of medicinal properties. It is available ready made.