Spice Guide

Consistency and quality control have been a hallmark of Patak's Foods since the company was founded. The flavor of Patak's® products is heavily dependent on the quality and freshness of the herbs and spices used and as such Kirit Pathak personally supervises their selection and importation from India and around the world.

It is the grinding process that releases aromatic oils from spices and these oils create the delicious flavors of Indian cuisine. Once ground, the flavors of the volatile oils fade rapidly.

With that in mind, one of the many things that set Patak's apart from other manufacturers is that the whole spices are ground at the point of manufacture to ensure freshness of flavor is retained.

Some herbs & spices commonly used in Indian cooking:

Coriander Leaves / Cilantro / Hara Dhania

The Coriander plant finds use as both herb and spice - the leaves are an herb and the dried seeds are a spice.

In North and South America, the leaves are referred to as "Cilantro" and the seeds "Coriander". They both come from the same plant.

Cilantro is the most commonly used herb in Indian cuisine, finding use in pretty much every type of Indian food.

Interestingly, Cilantro is also widely used in Mexican food, which is why in the USA (where Mexican food is popular) we are fortunate that fresh cilantro is both inexpensive and readily available in most grocery stores.

Cilantro is an herb that most people either love or hate. Just as some people are addicted to the refreshing aroma, others find it "soapy". The flavor is strong, yet delicate and complex, with notes of lemon and ginger. Although they smell and taste quite different, coriander seeds and leaves complement each other very well in dishes.

Did you know?

Coriander actually keeps its flavor fairly well when frozen. Chop the leaves and freeze them in a freezer-safe bag. The leaves lose some of their texture but flavor and color are retained making it very adequate for cooking and a lot more convenient. When you need it, just spoon it in frozen straight from the bag.