HERBS & SPICES

Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Turmeric has a peppery, warm and bitter flavor and a mild fragrance slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger, and while it is best known as one of the ingredients used to make curry, it also gives ballpark mustard its bright yellow color.

Turmeric has long been used as a powerful anti-inflammatory in both the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine. Turmeric (Curcuma longa), the bright yellow of the spice rainbow, is a powerful medicine that has long been used in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

Nutritional Profile

Turmeric is an excellent source of both iron and manganese. It is also a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, and potassium.

A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

• Add turmeric to egg salad to give it an even bolder yellow color.
• Mix brown rice with raisins and cashews and season with turmeric, cumin and coriander.
• Although turmeric is generally a staple ingredient in curry powder, some people like to add a little extra of this spice when preparing curries. And turmeric doesn't have to only be used in curries. This spice is delicious on healthy sautéed apples, and healthy steamed cauliflower and/or green beans and onions. Or, for a creamy, flavor-rich, low-calorie dip, try mixing some turmeric and dried onion with a little omega-3-rich mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Serve with raw cauliflower, celery, sweet pepper, jicama and broccoli florets.
• Turmeric is a great spice to complement recipes that feature lentils.
• Give salad dressings an orange-yellow hue by adding some turmeric powder to them.
• For an especially delicious way to add more turmeric to your healthy way of eating, cut cauliflower florets in half and healthy sauté with a generous spoonful of turmeric for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a flowering plant whose rhizome, ginger root or simply ginger, is widely used as a spice.

Long-hailed for its medicinal, therapeutic and culinary benefits in India, China and around the world, ginger continues to gain ground as a root for well-being. Ginger produces a hot, fragrant kitchen spice. ginger roots is often used as a seasoning in Indian recipes and is a common ingredient of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and many South Asian cuisines for flavoring dishes such as seafood, meat, and vegetarian dishes.

As the world’s most widely cultivated spice, ginger may also be the world’s most versatile, evidence-based natural health remedy. Numerous studies have been conducted on the medicinal benefits of this wonder spice for over 100 health conditions. It has a long history of use, and as a testimony to its numerous benefits, it remains a component of more than 50% of all traditional herbal remedies.

Galangal is ginger on steroids. Stockier than its rootstalk relations  It is a star ingredient in Thai cookery where it is named kha and is used in soups, stir-frys and curry pastes. In taste and aroma, it has a wonderfully clean flavor and fresh piney scent that are as pungent as ginger’s own spicy notes.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Besides being a rich source of iron, sodium, vitamins A and C, it also contains flavanoids and phytonutrients. This tuber is known to have numerous medicinal and health benefits. And is used by many homeopaths and healthcare professionals. Here are some of their health benefits:

• Galangal contains anti-inflammatory properties and therefore is beneficial in treatment of arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• It also helps to relieve discomfort caused due to inflammation of the abdomen and ulcers too.
• To curb sea and motion sickness, nausea, chew a few slices of fresh galangal.
• Galangal contains a host of anti-oxidants that helps to minimise the damage caused by free radicals and other toxins in the body.
• To improve blood circulation in the body, include galangal in your diet.
• If you suffer form diarrhoea, chew a few slices of fresh galangal to seek relief.
• Besides being a rich source of iron, sodium, vitamins A and C, it contains flavanoids and phytonutrients.

CHILI / CHILE / CHILLI PEPPER

Part of the capsicum family, chillies come in scores of varieties and colours (from green through to yellow, orange and red) and are one of the most popular spices in the world.

Chillies can be used fresh, dried or powdered, and the level of heat varies from type to type, from sweet and mellow to blisteringly hot - as a general rule, the smaller the chilli, the hotter the taste. The substance that generates the heat is called capsaicin, which is found mainly in the pith and, to a lesser extent, the seeds. But it's not all about heat - each type has its own distinct flavour.

Chili Pepper Health Benefits

Chili peppers are extremely healthy for you and offer a number of health benefits. They should be included in your regular diet. Here's why.

• Chili Peppers Have Loads of Vitamin C
• Chili Peppers Help Protect Your Heart
• Chili Pepper Can Help You Burn Fat and Lose Weight
• Chili Peppers Help Soothe Intestinal Diseases
• Chili Peppers Fight Inflammation
• Chili Peppers Help Lower High Blood Pressure
• Chili Peppers Can Warm Your Feet
• Chili Peppers Fight Cancer
• Chili Peppers Prevent Sinusitis and Relieve Congestion
• Chili Peppers Fight Migraine Headaches and Sinus Headaches

EVERGREEN ORGANICS BELIZE grows the following species of chili peppers:

1. Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)

Cayenne is used in cooking spicy dishes, as a powder or in its whole form (such as in Indian, Korean, Sichuan, and other Asian cuisine), or in a thin, vinegar-based sauce. It is generally rated at 30,000 to 50,000 Scoville units. It is also used as an herbal supplement

2. Jalapeno (Capsicum annuum)

This is one of the most popular chili in central America and some parts of north America. These chilies are primarily grown in southern part New Mexico and some parts western Texas. Jalapeno is used the large number of preparations including sauces, dipping and various main course cuisines.

A mature jalapeño fruit is 5–10 cm (2–4 in) long and hangs down with a round, firm, smooth flesh. It. Commonly picked and consumed while still green, it is occasionally allowed to fully ripen and turn red, orange or yellow, and is wider and milder than the Serrano pepper. Compared to other chilies, the jalapeño heat level varies from mild to hot depending on cultivation and preparation and can have between 2,500 and 10,000 Scoville units

3. Thai peppers / Bird's eye chili (Capsicum frutescens)

Thai peppers are generally smaller and characteristically points to the sky when on the plant, but is quite hot (piquant). It measures around 100,000–225,000 Scoville units, which is at the lower half of the range for the hotter habanera chili but still many times more spicy than a jalapeño These chilis are used in soups, salads, and stir-fried dishes. They are also put in fish sauce as a condiment or eaten raw. In Thai cuisine, these chilis are highly valued for their fruity taste and extreme spiciness. They are extensively used in many Thai dishes, such as in Thai curries and in Thai salads, green as well as the ripe red chilis.

4. Piri Piri (Capsicum frutescens)

Piri piri also called African bird's eye chili

This chilli is also known as - 'African Red Devil'. As the name suggests, this chilli originated in Africa and is extremely hot. It's thin and cylindrical in shape with reddish orange tint. The name 'Piri piri' came from Portuguese language which is used to identify this African devil. This chilli is primarily grown in Mozambique and Congo.

The fruits are generally tapered to a blunt point and measure up to 8–10 cm (3–4 in) long. Immature pod color is green, mature color is bright red or purple. Some varieties of birdseye measure up to 175,000 Scoville heat units.

5. Habanero (Capsicum chinense)

This is yet another intensely spicy chilli. Habanero originated in Cuba and is grown in different parts of Cuba, Mexico, Costa Rica Belize and Panama. This chilli is consumed in large quantity in Latin American society in the form of puree or salsa. It's aromatic nature made it very popular and its use is not limited to select dishes. The habanero's heat, its fruity, citrus-like flavor, and its floral aroma have made it a popular ingredient in hot sauces and spicy foods.

Unripe habaneros are green, and they color as they mature. Common colors are orange and red, but white, brown, yellow, green, and purple are also seen. Typically, a ripe habanero chili is 2–6 cm (0.8–2.4 in) long. Habanero chilis are very hot, rated 100,000–350,000 on the Scoville scale.

MORINGA OLEIFERA, known popularly as DRUMSTICK TREE

Drumsticks are loaded with valuable minerals, healthy proteins and essential minerals making it a healthy food. Moringa oleifera, a tree that has all the vitamins and minerals, and all the amino acids needed for a healthy body.

Health Benefits of Drumstick:

Moringa tree has been referred to as the ‘Miracle tree’ for its versatility and experts all over the world believe Moringa to be an ideal plant to combat under-nutrition because of its nutritional benefits and availability. It has been estimated that fresh leaves of moringa plant contain -

• 4 times the vitamin A of carrots
• 7 times the vitamin C of oranges
• 4 times the calcium of milk
• 3 times the potassium of bananas
• 2 times the protein of yogurt
• It is also a rich source of iron having almost three-fourth of the amount present in spinach leaves.

CILANTRO  or CHINESE PARSLEY

All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking. Coriander leaves are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K and protein. They also contain small amounts of calcium, phosphorous, potassium, thiamin, niacin and carotene.

Some of the health benefits of coriander leaves:

1. Coriander lowers bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
2. A very good food for digestive system, coriander promotes liver functions and bowel movements.
3. Coriander is good for diabetes patients. It can stimulate the insulin secretion and lower the blood sugar levels.
4. Vitamin K in it is good for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
5. The fat soluble vitamin and antioxidant- Vitamin A, protects from lung and cavity cancers.
6. Coriander contains anti-inflammatory properties. This is why it is good against inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
7. Coriander's anti-septic properties help to cure mouth ulcer.
8. Coriander is good for the eyes. Antioxidants in coriander prevent eye diseases. It's a good remedy in the treatment of conjunctivitis.
9. Coriander seeds are especially good for the menstrual flow.
10. It's a very good herb to promote the nervous system. It can stimulate the memory.
11. Coriander helps those suffering from anaemia. Coriander contains high amounts of iron, which is essential for curing anemia.