General Awareness · Biology

Indian Spices and Herbs

2,036 Questions

Indian spices and herbs form the foundation of regional cuisines, adding distinct flavors, colors, and medicinal properties to food. Topics include traditional spice blends, Ayurvedic herb properties, and the origins of various culinary ingredients. These cultural and general science questions are useful for tourism and state level exams.

Traditional spice blendsAyurvedic herbsSpice productionRegional chutneysMedicinal spices

Indian Spices and Herbs Questions

Multiple choice biology diversity in living things and their classification introduction to plant organs and germination seed to plants germination of seeds

Consider the following plants.
a. Curcuma longa
b. Ferula asafoetida
c. Myristica fragrans
d. Smilax aristolochiaefolia
From which of the plants are underground parts used for obtaining spices or products of commercial value?

  1. $1$ and $2$
  2. $3$ and $4$
  3. $1, 2$ and $4$
  4. $1, 2, 3$ and $4$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Ferula asafoetida (asafoetida) both utilize underground parts (rhizomes and roots/resins) for commercial value. Myristica fragrans (nutmeg) uses seeds/arils, and Smilax uses roots, but the question asks for specific commercial spices.

Multiple choice evs sources of food plants as food food and its sources food: where does it come from? food of animals animal and their eating habit classification of animals on the basis of food

Which of the following can be used as a spice?

  1. Chilli

  2. Oregano

  3. Ginger

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Spices are those substances that are used in flavouring food, coloring and preservation of food. They are mainly used in the flavouring of food items. Some examples of spices are clove, pepper, fennel, chilli, ginger, saffron etc.

So, the correct option is 'All of the above'.

Multiple choice biology food and health adulteration of food food adulteration food and human health

The adulterant of turmeric powder is

  1. Chalk powder

  2. Metanil yellow

  3. Saw dust

  4. Sand
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Adulteration is a process of mixing undesirable and inferior materials in food. The material or substance which is added to food is called as adulterants. Adulterated food is impure, unsafe, or unwholesome food. Turmeric powder is mostly adulterated with metanil yellow. 
Thus, the correct answer is option B.
Multiple choice biology food and health adulteration of food food adulteration food and human health

The adulterant used in turmeric powder is

  1. Tamarind seed powder

  2. Yellow saw dust

  3. Talcum powder

  4. Metanil powder
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Turmeric can be adulterated by metanil yellow. Metanil yellow is prepared using some basic raw materials like metanilic acid and diphenylamine. Metanil yellow is a principal non-permitted food colour used extensively in India. The effect of long-term consumption of metanil yellow on the developing and adult brain causes neurotoxicity. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice cancer - causes, signs and diagnosis human health and diseases zoology

How is turmeric good for treatment of cancerous tumours?

  1. Presence of curcumin

  2. Presence of cumin

  3. Both A and B

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Curcumin, a substance found in the spice turmeric, has long been used in Asian medicine to treat a variety of maladies. Now some research suggests that curcumin may help prevent or treat cancer. Curcumin is thought to have antioxidant properties, which means it may decrease swelling and inflammation.

So, the correct answer is 'Presence of curcumin'.

Multiple choice biology windows of knowledge human tongue organ of taste tongue : the organ of taste

Which of the following can be detected with the combination of the 5 taste perceptions (salty, sour, bitter, sweet and umami)?

  1. Nutritions

  2. Spices

  3. Flavours

  4. Food
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Tongue consist of taste buds. Each taste bud contains 50 to 100 taste receptor cells.  
  • The sensation of taste includes five established basic flavours: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness, and umami. Hence, Flavours can be detected with the combination of the 5 taste perceptions (salty, sour, bitter, sweet and umami).
    • So, the correct answer is 'Flavours'.
Multiple choice biology plant kingdom and the environment around us some important plants uses of plants as medicine medicinal plants

Clove used as spice represents _________.

  1. Seed

  2. Leaves

  3. Flower buds

  4. Stem tip

  5. Terminal bud
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The spice of clove is obtained from flower buds of  Syzygium aromaticum, plant belonging to the family Myrtaceae. The unopened flower buds are plucked and air-dried to obtain the spice. The plant can continue to flower for up to 80 years. The clove has several therapeutical uses such as diabetes treatment, dental pain reliever preparation of toothpaste etc. other than the culinary uses.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Flower buds'