Curry

Turmeric has long been used as a natural way to treat a host of ailments. Mahtab Jafaris study is the first to show how its active ingredient impacts age-associated genes and increases longevity in fruit flies. Image: Daniel A. Anderson Mahtab Jafari's research shows curry's main ingredient has more to offer than good flavor. It extended the lifespan of fruit flies by up to 20 percent, while improving locomotion and having tumor-prevention properties. Curry Powder is based largely on four spices: coriander, cumin, fenugreek and turmeric, with the possibility of many other ingredients being included. Out of eight well-known brands of curry powder (see labels below), the following ingredients were used in the frequency indicated:

Spices in Curry Powder: Times Used, Out of Eight Brands

Coriander Seeds, 8 Cumin Seeds, 8 Fenugreek Seeds, 8 Turmeric, 8 Cloves, 5 Garlic , 5 Curry Leaves, 4 Fennel Seeds, 4 Ginger, 4 Chillies, 3 Mustard, 3 Red Pepper, 3 Salt, 3 Cassia, 2 Black Pepper, 2 Poppy Seeds, 2 Anise, 1 Bengal Gram, 1 Cardamom, 1 Cassia buds, 1 Celery Seed, 1 Cinnamon, 1 Dill Seed, 1 Mace, 1 Nagkeser, 1 Nutmeg, 1 Onion, 1 Trifala, 1 White Pepper, 1

Formulations:
Coriander Seeds, Turmeric, Chillies, Cumin Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Trifala & Nagkeser (Fragrant Spices), Cloves, Cassia, Garlic, Curry Leaves and Salt.

Coriander, Turmeric, Chillies, Mustard, Ginger, Cumin Seeds, Fenugreek. Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Bengal Gram, Cumin, Chillies, Fenugreek, Pepper, Garlic, Salt, Fennel, Poppy Seeds, Curry Leaves. Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin, Salt, Fennel, Chilli, Cassia buds, Fenugreek, Garlic, Anise pepper, Cassia, Curry Leaves, Clove. Cumin, Coriander, Fenugreek, Ginger, Turmeric, Dill Seed, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, Mace, Cardamom, Cloves. Turmeric, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Ginger, Cloves, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, White Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Celery Seed. Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Cumin, Chillies, Fenugreek, Black Pepper, Garlic, Fennel, Poppy Seeds, Dried Curry Leaves. Coriander, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Cumin, Black Pepper, Bay Leaves, Celery Seed, Nutmeg, Cloves, Onion, Red Pepper, and Ginger. *********************************************
FROM THE LABELS

********************************************* SHIP BRAND Green Label MADRAS CURRY POWDER Coriander Seeds, Turmeric, Chillies, Cumin Seeds, Fenugreek Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Trifala & Nagkeser (Fragrant Spices), Cloves, Cassia, Garlic, Curry Leaves and Salt.
M. M. Poonjiaji & Co. 42, A. Podar Marg Bombay - 400 002 (India)

The best curry powder we've tasted so far. The GREEN CAN is easy to spot on the shelves. At the top of the can it says "By appointment to H.E. the Governor of Bombay" and "Estd. 1883". When the can is opened, a tight plastic seal must be broken to access the contents, which are tightly packed and very fresh smelling and tasting. Rich, warm taste --- no acridity; all flavors blend together. Contents 4.4 oz, 125 gms. Cost, in Los Angeles, California in May 2002, US$1.99.

BOLST'S Mild Curry Powder Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Chillies, Dry Ginger, Cumin Seed and Fenugreek.
Bolst's Indian Condiments (Pvt.) Ltd. 10-11th KM Kanakpura Main Road Bangalore - 560 052 INDIA Email: bolsts@bgl.vsnl.net.in Or: 9, Ashley Park Road Bangalore 560001 Or, Distributors: S.O.P. Edibles, Ltd. 7 Aston Fields Road Whitehouse Industrial Estate Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 3DL, UK Tel: 01928 712920

Bolst's is sold in all-metal cans with plastic lids. The flavors are excellent for cooking and all uses. We keep the Hot Curry Powder in a parmesan-cheese shaker next to the stove for cooking. Very perky curry powder, with distinct grains of larger size than most other curry powders. Flavors blend completely. BOLST'S Curry Powder HOT Coriander, Turmeric, Chillies, Mustard, Ginger, Cumin Seeds, Fenugreek.

RAJAH Mild Madras Curry Powder Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Bengal Gram, Cumin, Chillies, Fenugreek, Pepper, Garlic, Salt, Fennel, Poppy Seeds, Curry Leaves.
B.E. International Foods Limited Enfield, Middlesex EN3 7JZ England Produce of India One of the very best-tasting curry powders we've found, on a par with Ship Brand (above). Also, the only one with the hard-to-get "Bengal Gram", which we're still trying to identify! Sold in 3.53 oz cans with plastic lid.

LAXMI BRAND Mild Curry Powder

Coriander, Turmeric, Cumin, Salt, Fennel, Chilli, Cassia buds, Fenugreek, Garlic, Anise pepper, Cassia, Curry Leaves, Clove.
House of Spices (India) Inc. 127-40 Willets Point Blvd. Flushing NY 11368-1506 (718) 507-4900 Email: hosindia@aol.com

LAXMI BRAND Garam Masala Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Cumin, Chillies, Fenugreek, Black Pepper, Garlic, Fennel, Poppy Seeds, Dried Curry Leaves.

PALAT Sambar Powder Coriander, Red Chilli, Bengal Gram, Asafoetida, Fenugreek, Turmeric and Salt 5%.
House of Spices (India) Inc. 127-40 Willets Point Blvd. Flushing NY 11368-1506 (713) 507-4900 Email: hosindia@aol.com Asafoetida is an acquired taste, quite unusual for Americans perhaps.

SPICE ISLANDS Curry Powder Cumin, Coriander, Fenugreek, Ginger, Turmeric, Dill Seed, Black Pepper, Red Pepper, Mace, Cardamom, Cloves.
Specialty Brands, A Div. of Burns Philp Foods, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94108 Burns Philp Food Inc 14722 Anson Avenue Santa Fe Springs CA 90670 Tel: (562) 404-4564 Email: vinegar@bpna.com

SPICE GARDEN Brand Indian Curry Powder Turmeric, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cumin, Ginger, Cloves, Cayenne Pepper, Cinnamon, White Pepper, Garlic, Onion, Celery Seed.
Modern Products Inc. PO Box 248 Thiensville, WI 53092 $2.29 for 50 grams (1 and 3/4 ounces) in American health food stores. Pungent, sharp flavors that almost stand alone on the tongue; cinnamon stands out. Sold in tall glass jars with large-holed insert beneath a twist-off lid.

RANI BRAND Authentic Indian Products Curry Powder Coriander, Turmeric, Mustard, Cumin, Chillies, Fenugreek, Black Pepper, Garlic, Fennel, Poppy Seeds, Dried Curry Leaves.
Kundan Foods Inc. Carson, CA Website: http://www.kundanfoods.com $1.99 for 63 grams (2.25 ounces) in Indian food stores in California. "We use only the highest quality spices, it is then mixed and ground in our own facilities in California to ensure freshness and quality of our product." Has a different taste from other curry powders.

EL GUAPO (tm) Curry Powder Coriander, Fenugreek, Turmeric, Cumin, Black Pepper, Bay Leaves, Celery Seed, Nutmeg, Cloves, Onion, Red Pepper, and Ginger.
Available in cellophane envelopes for about 69 cents, in ethnic foods sections of markets in California.

PALAT Sambar Powder Coriander, Red Chilli, Bengal Gram, Asafoetida, Fenugreek, Turmeric and Salt 5%.
House of Spices (India) Inc. 127-40 Willets Point Blvd. Flushing NY 11368-1506 (713) 507-4900 Email: hosindia@aol.com

The Spices in Curry Powder

Fenugreek From _Back to Eden_ by Jethro Kloss (an herbal book) it says, "Botanical Name: Trigonella foenum graecum. Medicinal Properties: Mucilaginous, farinaceous. "Excellent made into a poultice for wounds and inflammations. Grind the seed, make into a thick paste, mix with powdered charcoal. The charcoal makes the poultice more effective. Treating ulcers and swellings in this manner will prevent blood poisoning. The tea is an excellent gargle for sore throat. The seed is jelly-like when moistened and has a very cooling effect on the bowels, lubricates the intestines, and is very healing. The tea is excellent taken in fevers. The seed boiled in soybean or nut milk is very nourishing." (p. 239-240) At the Gold Star India Website it says: "Fenugreek is one of the earliest spices known to man. Ancient Egyptians used it as a food, medicine and an embalming agent. Fenugreek has a strong, pleasant and quite peculiar odour reminiscent of maple. The spice is available in its whole and powdered forms as well as in the form of extracted oil, which is extensively used in perfumery." Turmeric (Tumeric) From http://www.essiac-info.org/Pets/pets.html [Note: this website is a discussion on treating dogs with herbs] "I gave both dogs Turmeric, which in large enough doses is supposed to prevent benign fatty tumors or even get rid of them. They liked Tumeric, it is the principal ingredient in curry powder. The vets who discussed this on an internet group said to give it to them until they refused to eat the food and then back off. However, I gave them only a teaspoon each twice a day."