The word organic gets used so freely that it has almost stopped meaning anything. On a packet of spice mix, though, there are a few concrete things it should tell you – and a few things worth checking regardless of what the front of the pack says.
What usually goes into a conventional blend
Turn a standard supermarket masala around and read the ingredients. Alongside the spices you will often find:
- Artificial colours – to produce a deep red that the spices alone would not give.
- Anti-caking agents – so the powder pours freely even in humidity.
- Fillers – inexpensive bulking ingredients that increase weight and reduce cost.
- Preservatives – to extend shelf life well beyond what the spices themselves would allow.
None of this is unusual, and none of it is hidden. But it does mean that a portion of what you are buying is not spice.
What changes when you leave them out
You use less
This surprises people. Without fillers, the blend is more concentrated, so the quantity a recipe calls for is often more than you need. Start with less than you think.
The colour is duller – and that is correct
A blend without artificial colour will look more brown and less scarlet. The colour of the finished dish comes from the cooking, not the powder.
Batches vary slightly
Natural ingredients are not uniform. Chillies from one harvest differ from the next. Slight variation in colour and aroma between batches is a sign of real ingredients, not a defect.
How to read a spice label properly
- Read the full ingredients list, not the claim on the front.
- Check for an FSSAI licence number – every legitimate Indian food business has one.
- Look for a stated shelf life. Honest blends have a realistic one.
- Be sceptical of health claims. Spices are food, and no blend cures anything.
Why we do it this way
ZestRight began because we could not find organic versions of the more complex blends. The simple single spices were easy enough to source well. The complicated ones – pav bhaji, chole, biryani, garam masala – were almost always the ones loaded with additives.
We create organic versions of even the most complex spice blends, and we source genuine fresh ingredients rather than cheap substitutes.
Our values are simple: transparency, purity and integrity. Every blend lists exactly what is in it.