Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 15.2
Culinary Spices and Flavourings of Major Economic Significance.
Plant part
used
Maximum shelf
life*
Item
Main production areas
Post-harvest treatments
Allspice (
Pimenta dioica
;
Myrtaceae)
Caribbean, Central and
South America
Berry
Sun dried, available whole or powdered
2-3 years
Aniseed (
Pimpinella
anisum
; Umbelliferae)
Warm temperate and
Mediterranean
countries
Seed
Whole or powdered
2-3 years
Anise pepper (
Zanthoxylum
piperitum, X
. spp;
Rutaceae)
United States, temperate
Asia, China, Japan
Berry, leaves
Dried, available whole, powdered or pickled (leaves only)
2-3 years
Asafoetida (
Ferula assa-
foetida
; Umbelliferae)
Western Asia, Iran,
Afghanistan,
Mediterranean
Hardened sap
from roots
or stems
Available in blocks or powder
18 months
Bay (
Laurus nobilis
:
Lauraceae)
Asia Minor, Mediterranean
Leaves
Fresh or dried, whole or ground
2-3 years
Caper (
Capparis spinosa
'inermis';
Capparidaceae)
Mediterranean, California
Unopened
flower
bud
Pickled in wine vinegar or dry salted
3-4 years
Caraway (
Carum carvi
;
Umbelliferae)
Europe, Russia, India,
North Africa, United
States, Canada
Seed
Dried, usually whole
2-3 years
Cardamom (
Elettaria
cardamomum
;
Zingiberaceae)
India, Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
Thailand, Central
America
Seed pods
and seeds
Washed in water and 2% soda to remove adhering soil, retain
green colour and limit mould growth. Dried by sun (5-6
days), over fire, convection drying, electrical dryer
(10-12 h) or flue pipe curing (18-22 h), may be bleached
with SO
2
, peroxide or metabisulphite. Stored in tea chests
(Madhusoodanan & Rao 2001; Korikanthimath 2001).
Whole dried pods, loose or ground seeds.
2-3 years
Cassia (
Cinnamomum
cassia
; Lauraceae)
Burma, China, east Indies,
Caribbean, Central
America
Whole bark
Chips, pieces or powdered
12 months
Cayenne (
Capsicum
frutescens
; Solanaceae)
Africa, Mexico, United
States, India
Fruits
Dried and powdered
2-3 years
Celery (
Apium graveolens
'dulce'; Umbelliferae)
Europe, United States,
Near East
Seed
Whole dried or powdered and mixed with salt (celery salt) or
other herbs (celery seasoning)
2-3 years
