Win A Copy of Chetna Makan’s New Cookbook Chai, Chaat & Chutney

Cinnamon, for its versatility in sweet or savoury dishes and because, when my kids go through the spice cupboard sniffing each jar, cinnamon is always their favourite aroma.

Cumin has to be my favourite – I add it to all sorts of dishes. My favourite way of perking up some yogurt to serve as a sauce.

Cinnamon is my favourite spice because it’s such a comforting taste and smell; apple pie wouldn’t be the same without cinnamon, nor would chai or even Christmas. Besides it even works is savoury dishes and on top of all that it has some amazing health benefits like fighting diabetes and cancer. In short, the world would be a better, happier place if more people celebrated cinnamon!

Pul Biber has to be my favourite spice. I love anything spicy but not too much, so pul biber is perfect for warming my soups, meats and basically anything I find to add it into!

I don’t know if it counts because it’s a mixture of spices, but my favourite is garam masala. It’s so versatile and makes everything taste great, even adding a delicious twist to classic scrambled eggs or mushroom soup! My dad mixes his own and keeps me in constant supply – probably why it’s even more special for me.

Cardamom, its a little sweet and adds a lovely flavour to everything from tea to cake and bread.

Cumin – apart from its amazing health benefits try cumin and lime roasted sweet potatoes -delicious

Simply Mace! So good with seafood, adds mysterious warmth to dishes.

I love saffron – especially in tagines or paella!

Five Spice mix!

Turmeric because if it’s healing properties. I love adding it into warm milk with ghee. So good for the guts…Also to my foods when I’m cooking. Especially porridge with turmeric is yummy.

Cumin. The experience of seasoning beans (to be eaten with rice, Brazilian style) is unforgettable. Changed my way of looking at beans.

Coriander is my favourite, it is so verstatile, you can add it to all dishes to lift it up, or add to salads to give salads a twist.

I love cooking with spices, but I guess one of my most loved is smoked paprika for the lovely warmth and slightly smoked flavour that it gives

Turmeric has got to be my favourite. Besides giving dishes a lovely warm yellow colour, I always use it as a natural remedy when my family gets a cough, cold and sore throat. Half a cup of warm milk, one teaspoon of honey and half teaspoon of turmeric always does the trick!

The aroma of mixed spices in a masala chai. What better way to start the day than with the exotic fragrant smell and taste of cardamon. Food is about adding a small piece of luxury to brighten up any day.

Just PEPPER!
Black pepper or white.
I have it on everything.

Fennel Seeds, they give a nice aromatic kick. Plus it’s good fun crushing them in a pestle and mortar

Hello!
It has to be cardamon for me, I love the powerful and unique flavour and the fact that it works in sweet and savoury recipes. I’m a big fan of using it in cakes, mixed with orange zest is a real treat. It also has great health benefits, like helping your kidneys flush away toxins.
Sally x

I have so many favorite spices, where would we be without them.

The spice I couldn’t cook without is ground corriander, it gives such an earthy base note to any dish and it’s so versatile. Curries, soups, pastries… it can be built on in so many ways. The fresh version is amazing too!

Turmeric – the superfood which can be added to everything from cooking to chai lattes even face masks ! this yellow spice has great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties so has to be my fave spice

Berbere – an Ethiopian spice mix, so good on fish!

Ginger! It can be comforting, refreshing and sweet but also hot and fiery.

Oooo cardamom!! Unsuspecting yet powerful. Aromatic yet comforting. Green and black. Sweet and savoury. Those tasty little pods are the raison d’être for my masala, Swedish semla, stem ginger kulfi or a ssspicy chai.

Ooo cardamom! Unsuspecting but powerful. Aromatic yet comforting. Green and black. Savoury and sweet. Those tasty little pods are the raison d’être for my masala, swedish semla, a stem ginger kulfi or a ssspicy chai.

Smoked paprika – it’s so versatile, goes in pretty much anything & adds a lush smokey flavour.

Star Anise is my absolute favorite spice! My grandma uses it in her homemade pizzelle and Christmas tree cookies every season. You can smell it on the front lawn before you even walk into the house. It’s such a warm and comforting spice for me, and every time I get a whiff of it I can’t help but remember all the times I helped her in the kitchen making those cookies.

My fave spice is probably cinnamon it just sweetened any dish lowers blood sugar and tastes simply divine xx

I love turmeric for its savoury, slightly aromatic taste. And that it brings a little sunshine yellow to dishes

I love turmeric for its savoury, slightly aromatic taste. And that it brings a little sunshine yellow to dishes.

Ginger is my favourite as it is so versatile and gives absolutely everything an exotic flavour. It has great health benefits too.