Spices are used as not only food additives for the purpose of flavoring but also sometimes they are used as preservative and also as medicine in India.For example Turmeric, which is a natural preservative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial. and another example is Cinnamon,it not only has a pleasant fragrance and aromatic taste but it also stops vomiting and nausea, relieves flatulence and diarrhoea .
More information regarding the medicinal properties of these can be seen in my other blog NATURAL HEALING
LIST OF COMMON INDIAN SPICES :
CUMIN SEED(English),JEERAGAM(Tamil),JEERA(Hindi)
MUSTARD SEED (English),KADUGU(Tamil),RAI/SARSO(Hindi)
FENNAL SEED(English),SOMBU(Tamil),SAUNF(Hindi)
STAR ANISEED (English),ANASHUPPU(Tamil),ANASHPAL(Hindi)
POPPY SEED (English),KASAKASA(Tamil),KHUSKHUS(Hindi)
FENUGREEK (English)VENDHAYAM(Tamil),METHI(Hindi)
BAY LEAF (English),BRINJI ILAI(Tamil),TEJ PATHA(Hindi)
CINNAMON (English),PATTAI(Tamil),DALCHINI(Hindi)
CARDAMOM (English)YELAKKAI(Tamil),ELAICHI(Hindi)
CLOVE(English),LAVANGAM(Tamil) ,LAUNG(Hindi)
GINGER ,(English),INNJI(Tamil),ADRAK(Hindi)
DRY GINGER(English),SUKKU(Tamil), SONTH(Hindi)
GARLIC (English),POONDU(Tamil),LASUN(Hindi)
SESAME (English),YELLU(Tamil),TILL(Hindi)
CORRIANDER(English),KOTHAMALLI(Tamil),DHANIYA(Hindi/ Tamil)
INDIAN VEGETABLES:
BITTER GOURD/BITTER MELON(English),PAVAKKAI(Tamil), KARELA(Hindi)
IVY GOURD(English),KOVAKKAI(Tamil),TINDORA(Hindi)
RIDGE GOURD/CHINESE OKRA(English),PEERKANGAI(Tamil),TURAI(Hindi)
OKRA/LADIES FINGER(English),VENDAKKAI(Tamil),BINDI(Hindi)
ASH GOURD(English),VENPOOSANI(Tamil),---------(Hindi)PUMKIN(English),MANJAL POOSANI/PARANGI KAAI(Tamil) ,KADDU(Hindi)
CUCUMBER(English),VELLAIRIKKAI(Tamil),KHEERA(Hindi)
RAW PLANTAIN(English),VAZHAIKKAI(Tamil),KELA(Hindi)
BOTTLE GOURD(English),SORAKKAI(Tamil),LOUKI(Hindi)
BROAD BEANS(English),AVARAIKAAI(Tamil),---------(Hindi)
CLUSTER BEANS(English),KOTAVARANGAI(Tamil),GUAR -PHALI(Hindi)
BANGALORE KATHIRIKKAI/CHOWCHOW(Tamil),
BRINJAL/EGG PLANT(English),KATHIRIKKAI(Tamil),
TURNIP(English),NOLKOL(Tamil),GAANTH GOBI(Hindi)
RADISH(English),MULLANGI(Tamil),MOOLI(Hindi)
ONION(English),VENGAAYAM(Tamil),PYAAJ(Hindi)
SNAKE GOURD(Hindi),PUDALANGAI(Tamil),PADWAL(Hindi)
ELEPHANT YAM(English),KARUNAI KIZHANGU/SENAI KIZHNGU/KARAKARUNAI(Tamil),SURAN(Hindi)
TARO/COLOCASIA(English),CHEPAN KIZHANGU(Tamil),ARBI(Hindi)
POTATO(English),URULAI KIZHANGU(Tamil),AALU(Hindi)
PIDIKARUNAI(Tamil) -Its a type of Wild YAM.Dont know exact Hindi and English names.
SWEET POTATO(English),SAKKARAVALLI KIZHANGU(Tamil),SHAKKAR KANDI(Hindi)
TAPIOCA/YUCA(English),MARAVALLI KIZHANGU/KAPPA KIZHANGU(Tamil)------(Hindi)
DRUMSTICK(English),MURUNGAI KAAI(Tamil),SAHJAN(Hindi)
CABBAGE(English),MUTTAI GOS(Tamil),PATTA GOBI(Hindi)
BELL PEPPER/CAPSICUM(English),KUDAIMILAGAI(Tamil),SHIMLA MIRCH(Hindi)
CHILI PEPPER(English),PACHAI MILAGAI(Tamil),HARI MIRCH(Hindi)
There are other vegetables that are available in US for which i am not sure about the indian names.Like...
Will add pictures soon
Please let me know if i have left out any names. And also indian names for the above vegetables.
thanks :)