Curry Powder
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Curry powder is a spice blend that’s used in various cuisines from India to Africa to the Caribbean.
Which curry should I choose?
The term "curry" was derived from the Tamil word "kari," which means sauce or gravy, and it referred to a variety of dishes with a mix of spices.
Curry powder, on the other hand, is an invention from the 18th century, created as an attempt to capture the complex flavours of Indian cuisine in a convenient form for British colonists.
It’s comparable, but not the same as, garam masala, and debate continues about the authenticity or otherwise of various curry powders and spice mixes.
British merchants took the conveniently-packaged powder across the Empire and beyond. Indented Indian workers brought their cuisine to the Caribbean, where Jamaican curry powder developed independently, with a higher proportion of turmeric, a slightly different spice mix, herbs, and chilli added separately.
What is curry powder?
Traditional curry powders usually include:
- coriander,
- cumin,
- turmeric,
- fenugreek,
- mustard,
- and can contain black pepper,
- warming spices like ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Chilli is usually included in, for example, madras curry powder, but is added separately for Jamaican curry powder, and there are other variations depending on regional and individual preferences.
The combination of these spices delivers a balance of earthy, pungent, sweet, and sometimes fiery flavours, making it a versatile seasoning for a wide array of dishes.