Spice is a strongly flavored and aromatic part of a plant used in small quantities as either a preservative or flavoring in cooking. It is generally the dried part of the plant, ie the bark, root, stem of a plant. Indian spices have their essence in the hard parts of a plant.

Form of Spices

• Whole Spices: These spices are used in their original form after being throughly cleaned. These spices are used both for garnishing as well as flavoring. eg: Cloves, Cinnamon, Black Pepper.
  
  
• Ground Spices: Grinded spices are used as they deliver flavor quickly and also they blend easily into a product; this is so, because grinding a spice breaks down the protective cell structure .

Parts of a Plant used as a Spice

Barks	eg: Cinnamon
Berries	eg: Black Pepper, Chilli
Buds	eg: Cloves
Bulbs	eg: Garlic, Leek
Pistil (female part of flower)	eg: Saffron
Kernel	eg: Nutmeg
Leaf	eg: Basil, Bay Leaf, Mint, Marjoram, Sage, Curry Leaf
Rhizome/Roots	eg: Ginger, Turmeric
Roots	eg: Ajowan, Aniseed, Celery
Seeds

Spices Extraction Methods
There are a number of extraction methods of spices being used depending on the technology and also the kind of spice being extracted. Some of the popular extraction methods are:

• Steam Distillation
• Hydrocarbon Extraction
• Chlorinated Solvent Extraction
• Enzymatic Treatment and Fermentation
• Carbon dioxide Extraction

Application of Spices
Spices are used mainly for food flavoring and preservation. However, spices have medicinal, aromatic properties that also make them useful in a number of industries including:

• Perfumes
• Cosmetics
• Medicine
• Beverages

International Trade in Spices
Spice trade has always held major economic importance throughout the human history. The international trade in various forms of spices has grown tremendously in the last decade. According to an estimate, 85% of the international trade in spices is dried and is used after cleaning but without further processing. Pepper is one of the most valuable spice in the global trade. Countries including China, India, Madagascar, Indonesia are emerging as the leading spice traders.