SPICE EXPERT

‘Indian spices have always been closely connected to magic, cultural traditions, preservation and medicine since early human history. Although Indian spices are easily available today, there was a time when wars were fought by the Romans to ensure that the trade route to India remained open to them. Some of the more widely used spices today are turmeric and cumin. Turmeric comes from the turmeric plant, and is heavily used in Indian curries to provide flavour. It is said to aid disorders such as arthritis and joint pain, while cumin, usually in the form of seeds or ground powder, adds a subtle, smoky flavour to dishes, aids digestion and is high in iron.’ Kiran is a second generation British Asian who makes curry bases. Her company, Kiran’s Kitchen (kiranskitchen.co.uk), was recently featured on BBC Two’s Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge.