Sarina Kamini

Clove was toothache cure in mother’s kitchen, mystery and delight added to kahwa tea. There is a lot more to this aromatic than meets the eye.

The uniqueness of salt is that it is both category and singular spice. While we may all have nostalgic recollections of mustard oil or turmeric, salt offers a static point of reference.

In Ayurveda, ghee is a sattvic food, a promoter of peace. In the pan, it performs the same role.

Pretty much a staple in Kashmiri cuisine, mace brings an addictive sort of concentrated sweet heat into your dish and your palette. It helps you share joy, and love.

Cumin seed brings us to earth, tasting of the real, the relatable, the clarity of the sensible. This makes it stand out among other spices that make you fly high, but also forget vital grounding.

In Ayurveda, jaggery is used to restore energy. It can be used the same way in your every day cooking, too.

Yellow mustard seed is the sculptor that shaves away the dead wood around your body.

Ginger is hot sun warmth and high-frequency zing.

Black cardamom is amorphous sexy smoke — wrapped around integrity.

Cinnamon is the smell of joyous belonging.