The spice starter kit came about when Steenbergs sent Sharmini some of their spices and she decided to use them in preparing her usual curries. She was amazed at the taste which she describes as ‘taking it up another notch’. Sharmini did not look back after trying them and then went on to do a joint demonstration session with Axel and Sophie at the York Food & Drink Festival.
The spice kit will feature Sharmini’s famous garam masala; her recipe blend has been passed down from her mother-in-law which, in turn, was passed down from her mother. It consists of the most expensive, luxurious, and perfumed spices; cinnamon – the bark of paradise, cardamom – queen of all spices and cloves – a perfumed bud that is never left to flower.
“Adding a small amount along with different spices of each curry changes the subtle flavours of your exotic curries.”
Sharmini Thomas
The spice kit, including 19 spices in total, also includes chillies, paprika, Kashmiri chilli powder (milder than hot chilli powder), mustard seeds, dry fenugreek leaves, fenugreek seeds, coriander powder, fennel powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, cassia bark powder, curry leaves, whole dried bird’s eye chilli, green cardamoms, black cardamoms, cloves, ajwain (bishop’s weed) and nigella seeds.
“They are the most common spices we use in Indian Cuisine and some we use in very small amounts but are incredibly essential to the curry we are preparing. They also compliment my recipe book
Sharmini Thomas