Spices from India have been the soul of global cuisine since time immemorial. Indians have been well versed with growing spices and also with their culinary and medicinal applications much before the rest of the world. The lure of these spices has led to historic explorations, wars and conquests and India continues to retain its stature as the Spice Bowl of the World.

Indian spices are not just an ingredient as they add flavor as well as aroma to the food. These spices include a large variety of herbs that are grown across the Indian subcontinent (South Asia). Due to different climatic conditions across the country, India produces a variety of spices while others are imported from countries having similar climates. Indian spices like Chilli, Cumin, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Sesame, Garlic, etc. are widely used for preparing different dishes of Indian cuisine. These spices are also used for flavoring foods and medicines in pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics.

These spices are also an indispensable part of Indian economy as India produces 75 types of spices out of the 109 listed with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Even in the ancient and medieval ages, Indian spices played a significant role in strengthening the economic conditions.