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.
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 …
8 Health Benefits of Gotu Kola a Medicinal Plant – Centella Asiatica
Medicinal plants are found in abundance in Meghalaya. Northeast is considered to be one of the two hotspots of medicinal plants in India. The other hotspot being the Western Ghats. Even though Meghalaya has 850 species of medicinal plants, there is still a lack of awareness and knowledge within the state itself resulting in overexploitation …
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Treat Your Flu at Home
We normally say that we have four seasons a day in Shillong.With the weather constantly changing each day people are more prone to getting a flu. If you’re like me, you don’t want to spend a ton of money on over the counter treatments that are filled with chemicals that don’t really do your body …
8 Incredible Ways Cinnamon Helps Boost Health, Beauty & Brains
Aroma and Cure Cinnamon! The name itself evokes a magical aroma. We know too well how cinnamon spices up motley foods from soup to gravies to breads and more. We use it in our biryanis and pulaos, meats and vegetables, cakes and pastries, pizzas and cookies, ice-creams and shakes…just about everywhere. As a spice cinnamon …
8 Incredible Ways Cinnamon Helps Boost Health, Beauty & BrainsRead More
The Road to Discovery – Ing Makhir a Potent Medicinal Ginger From Meghalaya
Zizira is always on the hunt for new unique plants and herbs from the hills of Meghalaya. Some may be new, some old, but mostly unknown, even to the locals. As we hunt, we make new discoveries, and it never ceases to amaze us. As we hunt, we want to make our discoveries available to …
The Road to Discovery – Ing Makhir a Potent Medicinal Ginger From MeghalayaRead More
Ancient Healing Foods: The Secret Behind a Turmeric Tea Treasure
It was already 32 degrees Celsius at 9 in the morning. Our daughter stumbled out of bed and said, “Momma, my throat hurts. Can you give me something.” Yes, even our grown children still look to their mommy’s for taking care of their hurts. I put on my regenerative mindset and pondered, hmm… what can I do …
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Golden Milk – A Nutritious Blend in a Single Cup!
Golden Milk is another name for Turmeric milk or Haldi doodh in Hindi. It is an infusion of either fresh or ground turmeric with milk or water. It’s a hot or cold drink that’s filled with nutrients till the last drop of it. It’s a delicious drink with many benefits which enhance our health and …
Phenomenal Health Benefits of the Galangal Root
Generally, we are all aware of the different spices and herbs. But have you heard of a herb called Galangal? Let us learn about this. What Is Galangal? Galangal is an herbal root that belongs to the ginger family (genus Alpinia). Galangal root is mostly found in the South-east part of Asia and is native …
5 Effective Health Benefits of Black Pepper Powder
Every time you buy black pepper spice, remember that this spice holds more benefits than you can imagine. Black pepper belongs to “Piperaceae family”, this pepper plant is processed in multiple ways to yield a different kind of pepper variety. For instance, the dried fruit is the black pepper and the white pepper is the …
5 Extraordinary Health Benefits of Perilla Seed Oil
Do you have a sensitive skin? If you do, then your skin is most likely to react to the slightest irritation and it may become inflamed and reddened. You may have to find a way to remove this skin irritation. Folks with sensitive skin need to apply products that have a calming effect and perilla …
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8 Incredible Health Benefits of Szechuan Pepper
When you have any food seasoned with Szechuan pepper, you may find it hard to stop eating. You could get addicted to it! Szechuan pepper has a strong flavor that leaves your tongue with a tingling sensation. It numbs your tongue, opening the pores of the taste buds, which is good, as it enhances the flavors of the …
5 Surprising Benefits of Cinnamon for Skin
Cinnamon is a well-known spice for its uses in both sweet and savory foods. It has also played a key role in traditional medicines across various cultures. Though popularly used for flavoring and as condiment in cooking, its medicinal benefits have been recognized through the years. Production of Cinnamon in India In India, the southern …
7 Health Benefits of Proso Indian Millet
Proso millet is a unique Indian Millet that is commonly known as white millet, Kashif millet or hog millet. It is a wild grass species that was domesticated as a crop somewhere around 7000 years ago, in China. This millet is now cultivated in India, the Middle East, Turkey, Russia and the United States. In …
7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cedar Essential Oil
Have you heard essential oil extracted from the leaves of a cedar tree is filled with elements beneficial to your health and wellbeing! Many people will be familiar enough with Cedar oil for its aromatic qualities. But there is much more to cedar oil beyond its aromatherapy benefits. It is surprising how cedar essential oil …
The Yellow Spice – Megha-1, Meghalaya’s other Lakadong Turmeric
Meghalaya’s Lakadong turmeric is perhaps the best in the world because of its high curcumin content of more than 7%. Scientists at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) at Umiam, have developed a cloned variety, which carries the goodness of Lakadong and more. Zizira explorers met with the scientists to find out what went …
The Yellow Spice – Megha-1, Meghalaya’s other Lakadong TurmericRead More
7 Wonderful Health Benefits of Mulberry fruit (Shahtoot)
Mulberry fruits (Shahtoot in Hindi) are refreshingly succulent, tart and sweet to taste and are indeed rich in numerous health benefiting flavonoids. According to this study, it is one of the healthiest fruits that can benefit the person consuming it. Mulberry fruit is a delicious and nutritious berry, enjoyed by people all over the world. …
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7 Remarkable Health Benefits of Oolong Tea
If you find drinking water is a bit too plain then there is another known healthy drink. It is none other than ‘oolong tea’. There are plenty of studies that tells us that the health benefits of drinking oolong tea. No matter whether it’s hot or cold, it is a still a refreshing drink. Oolong tea …
7 Soya Bean Benefits on Health [Infographic]
Soybeans have been long recognized as a plant food that, when compared with other plants, is relatively high in protein. Protein is the very reason why soybeans have been historically called as the meat on the field or meat without bones. But, only recently, have researchers taken a closer look at the protein content of …
Folklores About the Origin of Black Sticky Rice
The minute you hear the word ‘Rice’ your mind could conjure up an image of white grains. Am I right? Do you know that there is a variety of rice that is Black? Zizira offers ‘Black Sticky Rice’ in its product range. Yes, the grains look jet black, like burnt rice, but when you wash …
8 Health Benefit of “Amla” Indian Gooseberry [Infographic]
Indian Gooseberry belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. It grows well in the forested and hilly areas of the Indian subcontinent and ripens during the autumn months. In India, it is considered a sacred tree. The people here believe that mother earth has provided a tree that nurtures humans. The fruit is very nourishing, but it tastes sour. Both, dried …
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6 Proven Health Benefits of Honey
Most of us love honey! We are drawn to this natural sweet substance for its color, taste and most importantly, its incredible health benefits. Naturally sweet, with a high fructose content, it is delicious and good for health. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners or syrups, honey comes loaded with nutrition. Honey is full of natural minerals …
6 Remarkable Health Benefits of Quinoa
Quinoa (pronounced ‘keen-wa’) is an ancient grain domesticated by the folks of South America. A pseudocereal, it is highly nutritious. Quinoa, as many other ancient grains, has not been altered or genetically modified in any form and has the natural ability to survive in harsh conditions. As it can grow with little water, it is …
Why Prioritize on Food Safety?
To be safe is all that we want, when we talk about being sheltered, protected or being healthy. To top the list, food safety is one such priority that everyone desires. We are in an era where we look for food safety to avoid expenses that come with treatment for consuming something that hampers our …
A Natural Turmeric Face Mask for Glowing Skin
With the rough winter weather being harsh on our skin, we must take extra care to keep our face fresh and youthful. Agreed, there are many beauty products available in the market. However, many of them could have a negative effect on the skin owing to the chemicals they may contain. The solution? Choose a …
5 Useful DIY Natural Health Remedies with Bay Leaf
‘Bay leaf’ is a popular spice, commonly known as ‘Tej Patta‘ in the Indian household. Obtained from the Bay laurel tree, Laurus nobilis, it is widely used as a flavor enhancer in dishes, for perfumery purposes and for aromatherapy. Indian Bay leaf is a three-veined leaf, with smooth leathery texture and is deep green in …
‘Joha Rice’ the Special Aromatic Rice of Northeast India
Joha rice (Oryza sativa) is a short-grained rice belonging to a distinct class of aromatic rice. Known for its sweet-scented aroma and taste, the rice is indeed a special heirloom grain of Northeast India. This aromatic rice was considered regal back in the old days. It is so popular that when sold in local markets, …
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How Simple Medicinal Herbs and Spices can Heal
One Common Medicinal Herb and Nine Common Spices That Help Heal Injuries and Illnesses Did you know that there is a shrub that grows abundantly in Meghalaya, one that is considered an obnoxious weed, that can effectively stops bleeding in cuts and wounds? Or, that simple spices you use in your kitchen can effectively help …
Is It a Potential for Meghalaya’s Farmers to Grow Lemongrass?
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a tall perennial grass grown in the tropical and subtropical climate regions of South East Asia. It is native to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and India. India is one of the front runners in the production of Lemongrass, cultivated mostly in the Western Ghats and the foothills of the Himalayan range. …
Is It a Potential for Meghalaya’s Farmers to Grow Lemongrass?Read More
Sohdanei – Garcinia pedunculata – Does it Help in Weight Loss?
Zizira explorers have been hearing a buzz about Sohdanei – that it is used for curing many an ailment and could also help people shed weight! We decided to find out more by talking to people in Meghalaya who are knowledgeable about herbal medicines. *pronounced Sawh-da-ney (as -ey in they) Botanists call it Garcinia pedunculata. …
Sohdanei – Garcinia pedunculata – Does it Help in Weight Loss?Read More
Lantana Camara a Camouflaged Treasure Trove
Lantana camara is a perennial flowering plant found in tropical areas. It is indigenous to America and Africa, but can be now found as an exotic species in many other places of Europe, Asia and Oceania. This plant is known for its clustered flowering form with an aromatic scent. Lantana flowers display bright tinges of …
Long pepper – a Spice that Spices and Cures
Grandma’s Go-to Doctor — Mother Nature It was a lazy Sunday when I was recollecting younger days and was reminded of my grandmother and how she used locally grown herbs and spices to churn up a cure for many ailments! Grandma knew how to get us kids up, and off to school. As kids we …
Explore the Medicinal Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is renowned for its taste elevating properties and is almost a ‘must have’ in Asian cooking. Its use is so common that at times one tends to forget that ginger has many medicinal properties too. This spice is of special interest to Zizira explorers as many farmers grow ginger in Meghalaya the natural way …