chilli::మిరపకాయ::मिर्च

I came across this word cayenne pepper while looking for some cleansing techniques & realised Cayenne pepper is nothing but red chilli powder. There are various names for chilli across world.

All types of Chilli come under Capsicum family. All South Indian dishes are typically made of green chilli, red/dry chilli & chilli powder. Most of the South Indian areas are also known for large scale chilli farming.

Chilli is a very good antioxidant  & using right amount of chilli in food helps in fighting pains , cure diabetes and most importantly adds taste to the food.

Here are some varieties of Chilli...

Green chillies:: పచ్చిమిరపకాయలు:: हरी मिर्च

Red chilli :: పండు మిరపకాయలు, ఎర్ర మిరపకాయలు :: लाल मिर्च

Dry Chilli :: యెండు మిరపకాయలు :: सूखी मिर्च

Chilli Powder, Cayenne Pepper :: కారం, కారపు పొడి ::  मिर्च
Red Chillies are dried and then grounded to Chilli powder or Cayenne Pepper to use in cooking. There are various types of Chilli powders made with ingredients like salt or dhaniya or masala mixed to use in cooking.

Capsicum, Bell Pepper :: కాప్సికమ్, బోడా మిరపకా :: शिमला मिर्च

As mentioned earlier all chillies come from capsicum family and the chillies which are in bell shape are often called Capsicum.

Capsicum are also seen in green , red, yellow and purple like the regular chilli.

there are still other types of chillis like jalapeno, paprika, italian pepper, etc... used in various dishes.
Italian pepper is used in famous snacks mirchi bajji. we can identify Italian by the bents seen on their surface... this is how they look..

Chilli plants also has beautiful white/purple flowers like most of the spices...

Black Pepper::మిరియాలు::काली मिर्च

There are various types of pepper available - black, white , orange, green, red..
But black, white & red ones are used mostly... Black pepper dominates the pepper family and most used. black pepper is good to treat insomnia, indigestion, tooth decays, etc... Its a healthier substitute for the genric green/res chilli used for spicy cooking.

Black Pepper::మిరియాలు::काली मिर्च

Pepper powder made out of black peppers is a common flavour used as is or in many recipes.

Black pepper plant/tree grows really tall

Pepper flower grows into Green pepper which ripens to red pepper eventually dried to black pepper.

I will write about the rest of the peppers in a seperate post.

Ginger :: అల్లము :: अदरक

ginger is a notable herb used in cooking.  Ginger helps combat gastric/digestive problems.
ginger is used in many forms. Raw, dry, pickled & crystalized(allam murabba).
ginger-garlic paste one such combination which is never missed in cooking by many.

Ginger :: అల్లము :: अदरक
Typical raw ginger looks like this.

Peeled & Sliced Ginger::అల్లం ముక్కలు
Peeled & Sliced Ginger is typically used for cooking or for making ginger tea.
Ginger tea or अदरक की चाय is a delicacy cherished by many :) and known to be a good freshener

Ginger plant typically looks like grass with beautiful flowers , bearing ginger as root.

Sweet Ginger pickle and allam murabba are also famous recipes in south india.

Cinnamon :: దాల్చిన చెక్క :: दालचीनी

Cinnamon also known as sweet wood is one of the compulsory spices in the kitchen. Cinnamon is basically the thin bark of the tree which is eventually broken into pieces to use in cooking. Cinnamon is used  in preparing masalas as well as a sweetener. Cinnamon is a good weight loss agent, helps digestion and is good for diabetics.


Cinnamon plant bears beautiful flowers.

Cinnamon bark :: దాల్చిన చెక్క బెరడు :: दालचीनी छाल

cinnamon sticks typically looks like this after scraping off the layers of cinnamon bark

Cinnamon :: దాల్చిన చెక్క :: दालचीनी

The sticks broken further in pieces is what we use in cooking

Garlic :: వెల్లుల్లిపాయ :: लहसुन

Garlic is again an essential ingredient in cooking, known to control hypertension & improves immunity levels.

Garlic :: వెల్లుల్లిపాయ  :: लहसुन

Split Garlic/ Peeled Garlic :: వెల్లుల్లిపాయలు
is what we use in cooking

The plant look interesting too , its belongs to a bulb fa,mily

There are 3-4 types of Garlic - the white ones, porcelain , silver &  purple or red ones.
I am not sure if there any  characteristics that make them any  different other than the colour.

cloves :: లవంగాలు :: लौंग

Cloves is said to be the antiseptic, antioxidant medicinal valued spice.

cloves :: లవంగాలు :: लौंग

Cloves on the plant typically look like this.

coriander :: धनिया :: ధనియాలు :: కొత్తిమీర

Coriander leaves & powder are yet again compulsory ingredient in many of the recipes.
Coriander  :: धनिया :: కొత్తిమీర

Coriander Seeds / Cilantro :: धनिया :: ధనియాలు



cardamom :: ఏలకులు :: इलायची

I've seen this Big cardamom in biryani and wondered what it was which made me search for spices.
Cardamom is one of the compulsory ingredients in masala and sweets.

Here it goes Big Cardamom ::  పెద్ద ఏలకులు ::  बड़ा इलायची      
      























cardamom :: ఏలకులు :: इलायची

We have black, green & brown cardamom.