Spices

From the ancient time, 'Spices' have been as sought after as gold. They have played a prominent role in the entire civilisation. In ancient China, India, Rome, majority of the Spices originated from Asiatic tropics. Spices otherwise called as "accessories" or "adjuncts". The word 'spices' refers to dried and hard portion of the plant parts. Spices are valued in cookery and confectionery in the preparation of beverages and liquors, cosmetics, and perfumes. Several of them are of special importance in medicine, on account of their effect in aiding digestion by increasing the gastric juice; the appropriateness of spices to sacred uses such as burning of incense has long been recognised. The spices are obtained from the various parts of the plant like the roots, barks, buds, flowers, fruits, seeds and stem of several plant species.