Spices constitute an important group of agricultural commodities that are virtually indispensable in the culinary art. They can be primarily defined as farm products used in various forms viz; fresh, ripe, dried, broken, powdered etc. which contributes aroma, taste, flavour, colour and pungency to food, rather than a lone food seasoning factor. They are well known as appetizers or preservatives and many of them have rich medicinal properties and are used in pharmaceutical, perfumery, cosmetic products and religious rituals. Spices may be bark, buds, flowers, fruits, leaves, rhizomes, roots, seeds, stigmas and styles or the entire plant tops.

Market Potential of Spices:

• In the past one decade, the international trade in spices has grown by leaps and bounds.

• An estimated 500,000 tonnes of spices and herbs valued at 1500 million US dollars are now imported globally every year. India is also a large exporter of spices.

• In recent years, export of Indian Spices has been taking giant leaps.

• Possibilities exist in the commercial scale production of oil and oleoresins also.

• Indian vanilla has a huge potential as it is as good as Bourbon vanilla of Madagascar, and the Spices Board believes that it will be possible for India to gain a significant share of the US and European markets. West Bengal offers the ideal growing condition for the vanilla orchard and the Forest Department in the state has planted some vanilla on an experimental basis and the results have been encouraging.

• Other potentials exist in the field of fibreless and high oil content ginger, high curcumin turmeric and less seedy, thick skin type of chillies.

Size and Status of Spice Industry in the State:

• West Bengal grows various spices all over the state. Chilli
is a commercial crop in the Sundarban areas.

• There are a number of Spice Processing Units in the state, which are producing processed spices for the domestic and international market.

• Spice pastes and curry pastes are being exported from the state - the major exporters being K.C.Dutta Spices, Cookme and Mida & Co. Pvt. Ltd.