Spices. No Indian dinner would be complete without them, and no tale about the subcontinent would be complete. Spices are so intertwined with Indian history and culture that even Indian films are referred to as "masala movies" – masala being the Hindi term for spice. (This is because many Bollywood blockbusters are a spicy blend of humour, drama, action, and romance.)

Every year, India produces more than two million tonnes of spices. It is one of the world's top exporters, accounting for more than 40% of the global spice trade.  More.......