Bengali cuisine is
unique due to the
aroma and flavor of
the blend of spices
known as "panch
phoran". "Panch"
means "five" and "phoran"
is "flavor" or
"spice", hence the
common translation
Bengali Five-Spice.
It is a colorful
blend of flavorful
seeds, including,
but not limited to
the green of fennel
seeds, black of
mustard and nigella
seeds, golden of
fenugreek and
buff-colored of
cumin seeds.
The blend of spices
is usually fried in
oil or ghee before
adding anything else
to the pot,
flavoring the oil
and releasing the
aroma of the oils of
the seeds and
causing them to pop
in the pan. Other
ingredients are
added at this point,
the mixture adding
sweetness and
bringing forward the
flavors of
vegetables, beef,
fish or lentils.
Intestinal tract-
used medicinally
with purgatives to
relieve their side
effects, and for
this purpose forms
one of the
ingredients of the
well-known compound
liquorice powder.
Fennel water has
properties similar
to those of anise
and dill water:
mixed with sodium
bicarbonate and
syrup, these waters
constitute the
domestic 'gripe
water', used to ease
flatulence in
infants; it also can
be made into a syrup
to treat babies with
colic or painful
teething.
Fennel tea, also
employed as a
carminative, is made
by pouring boiling
water on a
teaspoonful of
bruised fennel
seeds.
Eyes- In the Indian
subcontinent, fennel
seeds are consumed
raw, sometimes with
some sweetener, as
it is said to
improve eyesight.
Ancient Romans
regarded fennel as
the herb of sight.
Root extracts were
often used in tonics
to clear cloudy
eyes. Extracts of
fennel seed have
been shown in animal
studies to have a
potential use in the
treatment of
glaucoma.
Blood and urine-
Some people use
fennel as a diuretic
and maybe a
potential drug for
treatment of
hypertension.
Breastmilk-Known to
improving the milk
supply of a
breastfeeding
mother. Due to being
a good source of
phytoestrogens.
Other uses- useful
for chronic coughs.
FENUGREEK SEEDS
Helps Balance
Cholesterol
Treat Diabetes and
Lower Blood Sugar
Levels
Herbal Cure for Skin
Inflammation
Natural Cure for
Heartburn and Acid
Reflux
For Fever- known to
reduce fever when
taken with lemon and
honey,
Ease Child Birth for
Pregnant Women- It
stimulates uterine
contractions and can
be helpful to induce
childbirth. However,
pregnant women
should only use
Fenugreek for
inducing labor after
consulting with
their doctor.
Aid Milk Production
among Lactating
Women- Research has
revealed that milk
production can
increase milk
production by over
500 percent within
24 to 72 hours after
consuming fenugreek.
CUMIN SEEDS
Dyspepsia, diarrhea,
flatulence and
colic.
To increase
lactation and reduce
nausea in pregnancy.
Effective in
treating carpal
tunnel syndrome.
Help to increase the
breast size.
Cumin poultice is
use to relieve
swelling of the
breast or the
testicles.
Stimulates the
appetite.
Help boost the
liver's ability to
detoxify the body.
Help relieve
symptoms of cold due
to it's antiseptic
properties.
Increase the heat in
the body thus making
metabolism more
efficient.
Cumin paste is use
as treatment for
boils.
Cumin strengthens
the functions of
stomach and arrests
any bleeding.
Relieve insomnia.
MUSTARD SEEDS
Mustard is a good
source of selenium
and magnesium.
Selenium helps
people with asthma
and rheumatoid
arthritis while
magnesium lowers
high blood pressure,
reduces migraines
and also prevents
heart attack.
Mustard seeds are
also a good source
of omega-3 fatty
acids as well as
iron, calcium, zinc,
manganese,
magnesium, protein,
niacin and dietary
fiber.
The essential oil
Tocopherols present
in mustard inhibits
growth of certain
yeasts, molds, and
bacteria, enabling
mustard to function
as a natural
preservative.
NIGELLA/ KALONJI
SEEDS/ BLACK ONION
SEEDS
Kalonji seeds have
been know to have
many healing
properties including
migraine, chronic
colds, palpitations,
alopecia, asthma,
bee stings,
paralysis, amnesia,
skin disorders,
facial palsy,
earache and
respiratory
diseases.
It is also known to
benefit the stomach
because of its
anti-bacterial
properties.
POTATO CURRY WITH
TAMARIND AND PANCH
PHORON
This spicy
vegetarian curry is
hearty enough for a
comforting fall
dinner. It's great
simply ladled over
steamed rice.
Ingredients:
3 dried hot red
chiles (about 3
inches long), stems
removed
1 tablespoon cumin
seeds
1 lb medium boiling
potatoes (about 5),
scrubbed well
3 tablespoons
vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
3/4 teaspoon panch
phoron (Bengali
spice mix)
1/8 teaspoon
asafetida powder
1/2 teaspoon ground
turmeric
1 cup water plus 1/4
cup boiling water
1 1/2 teaspoons
tamarind concentrate
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Toast chiles and
cumin seeds in a dry
small heavy skillet,
shaking pan
occasionally, until
fragrant and just a
shade darker, about
1 minute. Remove
from heat and cool
mixture, then finely
grind in grinder.
Cover potatoes with
salted cold water by
1 inch in a 2 1/2-
to 3-quart saucepan.
Bring to a boil,
then simmer,
partially covered,
until potatoes are
just tender when
pierced with a small
sharp knife, about
12 minutes. Drain.
Once cool enough to
handle, peel
potatoes with a
small sharp knife or
a vegetable peeler
and cut into 1-inch
pieces.
Heat oil in wok over
moderately high heat
until hot but not
smoking. Add bay
leaves, panch phoron,
and asafetida and
cook, stirring
frequently, until
seeds from panch
phoron stop
sputtering, about 1
minute. Add potatoes
and turmeric and
sauté, stirring,
until potatoes are
pale golden brown, 3
to 5 minutes. Add 1
cup water and bring
to a boil, then
simmer briskly,
stirring
occasionally, 5
minutes.
While potatoes are
simmering, whisk
together boiling
water and tamarind.
3Add salt, 2
teaspoons cumin
chile powder, and
tamarind mixture to
potatoes and simmer,
stirring
occasionally, until
sauce is slightly
thickened, 2 to 3
minutes. Season with
salt. Discard bay
leaves.
Note:Leftover
cumin chile powder
can be kept in an
airtight container
at room temperature
up to 3 months.
Quality Assurance
We are a quality
focused company with
a emphasis on
providing hygienic
and top end quality
products to our
customers. Our
organization follows
a zero tolerance
policy when it comes
to the quality of
the foodstuffs. The
equipments and
machinery we have
installed in our
factory for
production and to
test quality
standards stand
testimony to our
quality policy.
We are one of the
few spice exporters
in India to offer
spices conforming to
the important
physical, chemical
and microbiological
parameters as per
international
standards of
European and
American markets.
We can steam and
sterilize spices to
control micro
contamination in
spices to required
levels.
Our procurement
processes are
detailed and
supervised by a team
of professionals who
are experts in their
field. Products are
released in the
market after due
diligence on product
quality.
We make all
efforts to achieve
our goal of complete
customer
satisfaction.
Panch Phoron
Intestinal tract-
used medicinally
with purgatives to
relieve their side
effects, and for
this purpose forms
one of the
ingredients of the
well-known compound
liquorice powder.
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2008, www.tajagroproducts.com All rights reserved.