Across Canada
An Indian spice starter kit.
You do not need fifty jars. Twelve spices cover most Indian street food and home cooking, and you can build up from there.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 1 min read
Number
12 spices
Buy whole
Cumin, mustard
Keep
Airtight, dark
Replace
Yearly
01
The base
These four appear in nearly every savoury dish:
- Cumin seeds: earthy and warm, usually tempered in hot oil first.
- Ground coriander: mild, citrusy and thickening.
- Turmeric: colour and a gentle bitterness.
- Kashmiri chilli powder: bright red colour with moderate heat.
02
The finishing spices
These add fragrance and tang near the end:
- Garam masala: a warm blend of aromatic spices.
- Chaat masala: sour, salty and tangy, for chaat and fruit.
- Dried mango powder (amchur): sourness without liquid.
- Black salt (kala namak): a savoury, sulphurous note.
03
The tempering spices
These are sizzled in oil at the start of a dish:
- Mustard seeds: they pop and add a sharp, nutty flavour.
- Curry leaves: fresh or frozen, for aroma.
- Fennel seeds: a mild sweetness, common in kachori and pav bhaji masala.
- Asafoetida (hing): a pinch adds an onion-garlic depth.
04
Storage
Keep spices in airtight jars in a cool, dark cupboard, not above the stove. Whole spices last two to three years, ground ones about a year. Buy small quantities of anything you do not use often.
05
Taste the result
If you want to see what a well-spiced plate tastes like before you cook, try the dishes at Tapri Chai. Tapri Chai is at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm.
Questions, answered.
What are the essential Indian spices?
Cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala, mustard seeds and a few finishing spices such as chaat masala and amchur.
How should I store spices?
In airtight jars in a cool, dark place.
What is chaat masala?
A tangy, salty spice blend with dried mango powder and black salt, sprinkled on chaat and fruit.
Are Indian spices very hot?
Most are aromatic rather than hot. Heat comes mainly from chilli.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.