Quick Kitchen
As an urban homemaker, online grocery shopping is a blessing; the shelves are always full and ordering is just a click away. But in the rush of everyday life, it’s easy to trust fancy packaging and skip checking what’s inside. With adulterated spices becoming common even in big city stores taking a few minutes to check your masalas at home can really help keep your meals safe and healthy.
Here are some super easy tips I follow in my kitchen to check the purity of everyday spices:
Turmeric Powder
Mix a teaspoon of turmeric in a glass of warm water. Pure turmeric settles slowly, while the adulterated one (with chalk or artificial color) will make the water very yellow or cloudy right away. If the water looks extra bright or unnatural, be careful.
Chilli Powder
Drop a pinch of chilli powder in water. If the color spreads instantly, it may have synthetic dye. Pure chili floats for a while and then dissolves slowly. Also, rub a bit between your fingers pure chilli usually doesn’t stain heavily.
Cumin & Coriander Powder
Sprinkle the powder on water; sawdust or husk floats, while the pure powder should sink. Rub cumin seeds in your palm pure seeds don’t leave a black residue, but adulterated ones do.
Black Pepper
Drop black pepperco s in water. Pure peppers sink, while papaya seeds (used for adulteration) float on top. Press black pepperco s with your fingers: if they break easily, it means fillers are mixed.
Hing (Asafoetida)
Hold a little hing over the flame. Hing catches fire quickly and smells sharp. If it doesn’t bu easily, resin is likely mixed in.
General Spice Shopping Tips
Choose sealed packs from trusted brands, and always check for FSSAI logo and batch details.
Go through product reviews online before buying.
Try buying whole spices and grinding at home for extra freshness.
Look out for odd smells, lumps or uneven color—these are often signs of mixing.
Food safety is as important as taste, especially when feeding children and elders. Spending a minute a week on these home tests gives peace of mind. Shopping online is great, but purity in our spice box is priceless just ask any Indian mom!
