Chilli Powder Seven brands tested – some could do better

Chilli powder has a significant position in many culinary preparations. Widely used in Indian, Chinese and Thai foods, this rich, colourful spice adds a sharp and flavourful taste to any delicacy. Just a dash or two of chilli powder can turn around the taste of your food! Apart from the burning sensation and fiery hotness that it lends to dishes, chilli powder is also a repository of medicinal and health-benefiting properties. When buying chilli powder off retail shelves, what attributes must one consider? While some variation in colour and flavour is a given, does that matter?

Yes, variations would matter if your chosen chilli powder’s brightness came from added colour. The country’s law does not permit the addition of extraneous colouring matter in chilli powder. So, read the labels of the packet to be sure. Among other things, it must also provide nutritional information, storage information, and ‘ best before’ information. The following report checks eight brands of chilli powder along these and other parameters to enable us consumers to make an informed choice.