Ever heard of heirloom food or heirloom plants? Heirloom tomato? Heirloom oranges? What are these? You know about grandfather clocks or grandmother mahogany rocking chairs. Some of you even have one of those prized possessions occupying a place in some prominent corner of your houses. Those are real heirlooms. But what are heirloom food?
Real Lakadong or Ordinary Turmeric – Know Different Varieties of Turmeric
Turmeric is like no other spice. That golden powder, ubiquitous in Indian kitchens and many Asian cuisines is also an incredible health and beauty giver. Turmeric’s amazing health benefits lay in its bioactive phytochemical components such as polysaccharides, curcuminoids and essential oils like curcumol and curdione. But what gives turmeric its wide-spectrum therapeutic properties and …
Real Lakadong or Ordinary Turmeric – Know Different Varieties of TurmericRead More
The Amazing Acorus Calamus – Panacea for Many Ills
Commonly known as Vacha in Ayurveda, Bacch in Unani, Acorus calamus is widely used in many traditional systems to cure a variety of ailments. This medicinal plant is another treasured gift from mother nature. Traditional healers among the Khasis of Meghalaya use the leaves to treat paralysis.
Stinging Nettle, the Shrub That Heals and Feeds
Nettle has rich amounts of phytochemical compounds such as flavonoids, carotenoids, phenols, hydroxyl fatty acids, phenols, lignans and a host of other compounds. These phytochemicals give nettle its properties to cure a variety of diseases.
How to Age Gracefully – Stress busting Attitudes to Graceful Ageing
The fear of ageing seems to be getting everyone’s goat. People have wrong notions about ageing. You are as young as you feel you are. Attitude is what makes for graceful ageing.
How to Age Gracefully – Stress busting Attitudes to Graceful AgeingRead More
Turmeric Growing Practises in the Lakadong Country
The world’s best turmeric comes from the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. In their quest for Lakadong turmeric, Zizira explorers ensconced themselves in Lakadong country with one sole purpose, to bring out the best the world can offer in turmeric. Hand in hand with their supplier the team gave their all unstintingly to realise that purpose. All that would not have been possible without the unreserved devotion of Bah Shadap, the soul behind the sourcing of pure, genuine and unmixed Lakadong turmeric with curcumin content upwards of 7.5%.
Lakadong Turmeric Trail – the World’s Best Turmeric
At Zizira we are always concerned about product purity and quality. Because when we promise the best we mean nothing but the best. Incidences of adulteration in foodstuffs raise a morbid fear in us. Because of this, we have made it a policy in the company to source our raw material from nowhere but the very source itself, and not via media. That way we can ensure 100% genuineness in our product line. This is how we source our Lakadong turmeric – from the very farmers who grow it.
Lakadong Turmeric Trail – the World’s Best TurmericRead More
11 Uses of Soap Nuts – A Natural Cleanser
For hundreds of years, people in India have been doing their laundry and cleaning with Soapnuts. Soapnuts are extremely versatile. They can be even used for personal care and numerous everyday-cleaning needs. They are naturally hypoallergenic, odorless and do no damage to fabrics. Learn more about the uses of Soapnuts.
How to Kill Hunger and Maintain Gut Health With Sohphlang
Would you not be curious to know about a delicious root tuber you can eat that will kill not only your hunger but also the creatures inside your tummy that can cause health problems? ‘Sohphlang’ is one uniquely Meghalayan tuber and late autumn to early spring is the season for its showing up in the …
How to Kill Hunger and Maintain Gut Health With SohphlangRead More
Interesting Facts and Uses of Pine Trees
Pine trees are cultural symbols all over the world, known for their ability to survive numerous climates. They are the most common coniferous tree worldwide. You probably already are familiar with pine trees, but we bet that you will learn something interesting and exciting by reading some lesser known facts. Find out what are the different parts of a pine tree and get fascinated by the various ways it can be used.
This Wild Root Might Save You From Major Health Problems – Potentilla Fulgens
Potentilla fulgens is one of the thousands of medicinal plants that populate the forests of India. Commonly known as Bajradanti in Hindi, Cinquefoil in English, Dentamanjari in Nepali, and Langning in Khasi (Meghalaya), this medicinal root have been used as cures for diarrhoea, high blood pressure and high blood sugar among many others. Learn more about the 5 amazing medicinal benefits of Potentilla Fulgens and it’s traditional uses.
This Wild Root Might Save You From Major Health Problems – Potentilla FulgensRead More
8 Natural Health Benefits of Carica Papaya
Papaya is chock full of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fibre so beneficial for the body’s metabolism and health. There is vitamin C, Vitamin B (in the form of folic and pantothenic acid), potassium and magnesium. All these help keep our body functions fine-tuned right through the blood, heart, bone marrow, brain and DNA. Read on to know more about the healthful papaya fruit.
5 Simple Things To Help Your Kids Create With Natural Dyes
Do you want your kids to use their imagination and creativity? Do you want them to move away from gadgets and modern technology? Zizira craft kit is an ideal way to help kids engage their minds in creativity and show them the beautiful colors that plants produce. This is an ideal craft kit for kids …
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How HACCP Prevents Food Safety Issue
What was originally developed for NASA in the 1960s to prevent microbiological contamination of Astronauts’ food became the blueprint for the global food industry’s safe food assurance system. In 1971, food companies in the USA voluntarily adopted NASA’s system to develop techniques to guarantee safe food for the public. Thus HACCP or Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point protocol eventually took shape. The system is now a recognized food safety monitoring system that food companies the world over have successfully adopted.
7 Habits to Happy Healthy Ageing
No matter what your age, if you desire graceful ageing you can do so by cultivating certain habits into your lifestyle. These golden habits are simple, tried and tested practices in most indigenous societies who never seemed to age the way people do in modern societies. Here’s 7 of them for you!
Is Your Turmeric Pure or Tainted? Easy Turmeric Test
The turmeric market is booming. Traders want to get the most of it. But what does that mean to the quality of turmeric and the health of consumers? Test your turmeric before buying. Here are quick & easy ways to know if your turmeric is pure or tainted.
Is Your Turmeric Pure or Tainted? Easy Turmeric TestRead More
Why You Should Care About Healthy Ageing – The Happy Way to Long Health
I sat on the patient’s stool at my Doctor friend’s one afternoon maybe 10 years ago. I was in my early fifties then as I rattled off my litany of woes-creaky joints, achy back, stiff neck — my friend the Company Doctor listened with extreme patience to my humdrum story while he timed my pulse …
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Small but A Power-packed Herb – Gotu Kola : Uses & A Word of Caution!
Gotu Kola is generally known as Brahmi or Jalbrahmi in Sanskrit and Hindi, and Mandookparni in Ayurveda. Its nutrient value comes from its richness in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, iron selenium and zinc. It has Vitamins A, B and C, phytochemicals, flavonoids and antioxidants. Read some of the uses of this ancient herb and when you should NOT use it!
Small but A Power-packed Herb – Gotu Kola : Uses & A Word of Caution!Read More
How Adulteration In Turmeric Powder Happens? Can You Avoid It?
We Indians consume turmeric everyday. Unfortunately, purity of the turmeric you buy is becoming a matter of concern. Buying loosely sold turmeric has a higher chance of being adulterated. Are you aware of how adulteration of turmeric is happening? Let us help you uncover this unpleasant situation.
How Adulteration In Turmeric Powder Happens? Can You Avoid It?Read More
The Why Behind The Big Fat Indian Haldi Ceremony
Weddings in India aren’t just ceremonies, they are festivals! Which is why wedding planning starts at least six months in advance. The Haldi or turmeric ceremony is the only Indian ceremony named after a spice. Let’s find out the significance of turmeric in Indian weddings.
Bhadresh Tells His Story About Cancer Curing Curcumin – An Extraordinary Molecule
Could Curcumin Cure Cancer? Everyone talks about cancer. Few know about curcumin. But is it true that curcumin in turmeric could cure this deadly disease, called cancer? Here is an interview with Bhadresh, who have been our loyal customer. He has been promoting turmeric to cancer patients for a few years now and knows the …
Bhadresh Tells His Story About Cancer Curing Curcumin – An Extraordinary MoleculeRead More
Get Connected With Nature Through 3 Underutilised Plants Transformed Into Products
Our needs are endless! There is no limit to what we want and what we can create. In this race of constant creation, we have come far. But in our quest to create, have we missed the link to create with nature? Look closely, and you will realize that nature has given us everything we …
Get Connected With Nature Through 3 Underutilised Plants Transformed Into ProductsRead More
Winged Prickly Ash Impressive Tongue-numbing Spice
Spice to Chew Away Your Ailments Uncle Wen had one peculiar habit. He never travelled anywhere without a tiny box of dried ‘Jaiur’ – Winged Prickly Ash a.k.a. Szechuan pepper. It was his lifeline, he declared. You see, Uncle Wen suffered from low blood pressure and diabetes. He had frequent toothaches (he ate too much …
Natural Health & Wellbeing – Revive and Regenerate Everyday with Zizira
The Race for Health and Well-being Being and staying healthy is everyone’s desire, and one of people’s nagging concerns. Health is the single vital need that’s often taken for granted. Until we run into problems. That’s one reason why global healthcare industry is thriving. There is any number of health clinics and hospitals. And numerous …
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Meghalaya’s Mosambi – Sweet Lime for Refreshment & Nutrition
Sweet Lime for an Energised Day The cruel hot sun beats without mercy. The weather is oppressive. Exhaustion soon overcomes you, enervating you and your body jellifies. Instinct craves for a swig of that cool, soothing drink to get energised once again. Like most people’s, your first fruit juice of choice happens to be Mosambi …
Meghalaya’s Mosambi – Sweet Lime for Refreshment & NutritionRead More
5 Reasons Why Turmeric Might Not Be for You?
Customers often ask me “Is turmeric safe for everyone?” My quick response is “Yes it’s Turmeric, it’s good for everyone”. But then, as the thought “Could something as medicinal as turmeric be unsafe?” popped up in my head, I erased my answer. Worth looking up, I thought. Turmeric is my favourite spice as it helped …
21 Amazing Turmeric Uses You Must Try
Turmeric Is a Wonder Spice! We sought out ancient wisdom and modern innovation to discover internal and external applications of turmeric. Raw turmeric, powdered turmeric and turmeric leaf. All three parts of the plant are multi-purpose. Apart from the health benefits of ingesting, turmeric has many external applications as well? So, what are the various …
Highland Tea Story From Sohryngkham Meghalaya
Little Magical Tea Garden Picturesque is the word that describes Sharawn Tea Garden. It sits pretty on the gentle south-sloping highlands of Sohryngkham village in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. The well-known temperate climate of Sohryngkham situated at an altitude of 5333 ft is perfect for this highland tea. Bah John, a bold entrepreneur who for …
5 Ways to Eat and Drink Turmeric Spice at Home
Turmeric is one spice, you could have in your kitchen cabinet and not regret. A multi-purpose spice that you can add almost everywhere. Yellow-orange in colour it provides great flavour and makes the food you consume exude with wonderful health benefits. If you’re looking for more ways to consume this potent spice and add them …
A Touch of Spices – Spending Time With Bei Bina
Bei Bina Shylla of Iewduh Market, Shillong ‘Bei’ is an endearing term meaning Mother in the Pnar language of the Jaintias, a sub-tribe of the Khasi people of Meghalaya. Bei Bina is one of the retailers of Khasi spices in Shillong. I had an appointment with Bei through my sister Lina who knows her well. …
Lakadong Raw Turmeric – World’s Best Golden Spice
What Makes Lakadong the Best? If you’re like me, you would be curious to discover what sets Lakadong raw turmeric apart from other raw turmeric. I set out on a journey of research to discover the answer. I listened to stories. I had a vested and personal interest in this story because my grandparents always …
OMG! The Best Turmeric Festival Ever
Have you ever played the word association game? I say, “Turmeric” you say “______________” Last week, at Zizira, we sort of played this game. Suddenly we were associating the word Turmeric with Festival! If you’re a health-conscious turmeric lover, you might have other word associations 🙂 Our conversation prompted me to do some digging. I soon …
Amazing Black Pepper, Black Gold and King of Spice
Early Days of Black Pepper In medieval Europe black pepper, like other spices, was a commodity of the nobility and the rich, coveted not only for the flavours it imparts on cuisines but also for its purported medicinal properties. Europeans of those days had so dismal geographical knowledge that they thought spices had mystical origins. …