An Indian kitchen would not be complete without the ‘masala box’, a traditional spice box. It usually comprises five or seven tiny cups filled with spices used in everyday cooking. The Bengali Mishti Doi is a rich dessert, the Kashmiri Kahwa is a traditional tea, the Gujarati Dhokla is a snack or the South Indian Rasam is a soupy dish. Generally speaking, spices are more costly than other agricultural goods. The costliest spice is still saffron. India is the world's top producer of the sought-after spice, second only to Iran.

Health Benefits of Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices have been used for ages in both medicine and cooking. Spices can prevent both acute and chronic illnesses in addition to improving the taste, colour, and perfume of food and drinks. Using herbs and spices for therapeutic and medicinal purposes, particularly for a number of chronic illnesses is beneficial. Spices and herbs have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antitumorigenic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and glucose- and cholesterol-lowering capabilities, as well as effects on mood and cognition.

Over the last 10 years, studies have documented the wide spectrum of health benefits they offer through their bioactive components, which include vitamins, particularly flavonoids and polyphenols, alkaloids, phenolic diterpenes, sulphur-containing compounds, and tannins. Because they contain a lot of phenolic compounds, spices and herbs including clove, rosemary, sage, oregano, and cinnamon are great sources of antioxidants. It is clear that eating spicy foods frequently has also been associated with a decreased chance of dying from ischemic heart and respiratory conditions as well as cancer. It is currently unknown, nevertheless, just what part spices and herbs play in maintaining health, particularly in preventing the onset of chronic, noncommunicable diseases.

Commonly used herbs and spices like garlic, fenugreek, black pepper, turmeric, chili pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and rosemary are highlighted in this review for their possible health advantages. It is seen in the pandemic era that Indians have more survival rate than other non-spice using countries and this shows that food prepared with using more spice helps to develop immunity.

The Indian spices market is experiencing significant growth, driven by several factors:

Growing demand for natural and healthy products: People are looking for healthier and natural substitutes for artificial preservatives and flavourings. Spices are becoming more and more well-liked as a natural approach to improve the flavour and scent of food because of their many health advantages.

Growing interest in Indian food: Indian food has become more well-known throughout the world because of its variety of flavours and fragrant spices. As a result, there is now more demand both domestically and outside for genuine Indian spices.

Growing demand for spice mixtures and blends: Customers can enjoy convenience and diversity with pre-packaged spice blends and mixtures. 

The market for spices is expanding as a result of this tendency, particularly among those who are busy and looking for quick and simple ways to flavour their food.

Boom in e-commerce: Online marketplaces have made it simpler for customers to buy spices from a range of vendors, including small-scale growers and manufacturers. As a result, spices are now more widely available and the market is expanding.

Government assistance: The Indian government has taken a number of steps to encourage the spices sector, such as boosting exports, enhancing infrastructure, and offering subsidies. These actions have significantly contributed to the market's expansion.

All things considered; the aforementioned elements are anticipated to propel the Indian spices market's growth in the upcoming years. The market is expected to grow further as people learn more about the advantages of spices and as demand for Indian food rises.

The market offers spices in a variety of forms according to their usability and packaging:

Packets/Sachets: Spices that are marketed in packets are usually used as ingredients for food preparation or for cooking. They can be whole or ground, and they are frequently offered in a variety of sizes and amounts.

Sprinkler: Customers can easily apply spices to food by using sprinkler containers, which are made to be user-friendly. Usually, these are used as garnishes or seasonings like Powdered black pepper, Oregano, Chaat masala and Italian seasoning.

Crusher (Grinders): The spices that are accessible in grinders or crushers are often entire spices that require fresh grinding in order to be used. The fresh flavour and perfume are released with the aid of the grinding process.