Spices and seeds are used as adjuncts to impart flavor or piquancy in food and also for their medicinal value. Alfarid offers a variety of premium quality seeds and spices selected for their flavor and nutrition. We invite you to browse our Product Gallery for the highest quality seeds, spices and seasonings available. You will find common and uncommon offerings along with other cooking ingredients. View Image
Alfarid is one of the most prominent exporters of Dill Seeds. It is commonly known as Anise seeds.
Botanical Name: Anethum graveolens
Dill is an annual or biennial herb. It has a smooth surface, pinnately divided leaves, small yellow flowers and elliptic, flattened fruits. It consists of moisture, mineral water and acid insoluble ash. The leaves have pleasant aromatic odour and warm taste. Both seeds and leaves are valued as spice.
Uses
Dill leaves are stimulant. They are useful in increasing secretion and discharge of urine and in counteracting spasmodic disorders. They are a soothing medicine and help improving the functioning of the stomach.
Dill seed is used both whole and ground as a condiment in soups, salads, processed meats and pickling. Dill stems and blossom heads are used for dill pickles. The seeds of the plant yield an essential oil known as dill oil. The essential oil is used in the manufacture of soaps. View Image
Alfarid is one of the most prominent supplier and exporters of Bishop Weed Seeds.
Botanical Name: Trachyspermum amoni (L.) Sprague
Bay Leaves or Ajwain are dried leaves or evergreen shrub. Bishop's weed is a small, erect, annual shrub with soft fine hair.
Uses
Bay leaves are used as flavouring in soups, stews, meat, fish, sauces and in confectionaries. The essential oil from the leaves is also used as spice and food flavouring agent. The major functional properties are anti-microbial, anti-fungal, hypoglycaemic, anti-ulcerogenic etc.
The seeds are stimulant and are useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders. The herb is also beneficial in earache. The seeds are used as a spice, in flavoring numerous foods, as anti-oxidants, preservatives and in medicine.
Gastro-Intestinal Disorders: Bishop's weed and volatile oil has long been used in indigenous medicine for the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, atonic dyspepsia, cholera, colic, flatulence and indigestion.
Respiratory Disorders: A mixture of the seeds and buttermilk is an effective remedy for relieving difficult expectoration caused by dried up phlegm. The seeds are also efficacious in bronchitis. A hot fomentation with the seeds is a popular household remedy for asthma. Chewing a pinch of ajwain seeds with a crystal of common saIt and a clove is a very effective remedy for cough caused by acute pharyngitis in influenza.
Common Cold: Bishop's weed is an effective common cold remedy. It has a remarkable power to open up clogged and congested nasal passages.
Migraine: The seeds are useful in the treatment of migraine and delerium. They should either be smoked or sniffed frequently to obtain relief.
Rheumatism: The oil extracted from the seeds is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatic and neuralgic pains. It should be applied on the affected parts.
Throat Congestion: An infusion of the seeds mixed with common salt is an effective gargle in acute pharyngitis, sore and congested throat and hoarseness of the voice due to cold. View Image
Alfarid is a leading exporter of Cumin Seeds.
Botanical Name: Cuminum cyminum L.
Cumin or Zeera is an annual herb, with a smooth surface and long, slender root. The plant has aromatic seed-like fruit, commonly known as cumin seed. It is oval-shaped, approximately 6 mm long and light yellowish-brown in color. It has a peculiar, strong and heavy odour.
Uses
Cumin seed has an aromatic odour and bitter taste. It is used as a condiment, and is an ingredient in curry powders, seasonings of breads, cakes and cheese. In medicine, it is used as a stimulant, carminative, stomachic and astringent. Cumin seed oil is used in perfumery and for flavouring liqueurs and cordials.
Cumin is beneficial in the treatment of piles, relieving insomnia, useful in renal colic and common cold and fevers. Its use increases the secretion of breast milk and is also valuable in amnesia or dullness of memory. View Image
Alfarid is a leading supplier and exporter of Castor Seeds.
Botanical Name: Ricinus Communis
Castor or Arandi is a small annual plant. It ranges from 1 to 7 meters in height. It has well-developed roots, with green and reddish stems which become hollow with age. The fruit is a spherical capsule with small grey seeds with brown spots.
Curative Properties
Castor is used very effectively in the treatment of rheumatic and skin disorders. It is a harmless purgative.
Rheumatism: A poultice of castor seeds can be applied with beneficial results to gouty and rheumatic swellings.
Skin Disorders: A poultice of castor leaves is useful as an external application to boils and swellings. Coated with some bland oil such as coconut oil and heated, the hot leaves can be applied over guinea-worm sores to extract the worms. A poultice of castor seeds is also applied to scrofulous sores and boils due to tuberculosis of lymph nodes.
Problem of Breast Milk Secretion: Castor oil massaged over the breast after child-birth increases the flow of milk, as it stimulates the mammary glands.
Dandruff: If used regularly as hair oil, it helps the growth of the hair and cures dandruff.
Constipation: castor oil can safely be used round the year to administer purgatives.
Other Uses
Natural Birth-Control: Castor seed is a herb for birth control and if the woman swallows one castor seed, after the menstrual cycle she will not conceive during that month. When pregnancy is desired, the practice can be given up and conception follows after a year.
Castor oil massaged over the body, before bath, keeps the skin healthy and imparts sound sleep. Applying castor oil over hand and feet before going to bed keeps them soft and similarly over the eyebrows and eyelashes keeps them well-groomed.
Caution: Repeated use of castor oil as a laxative should be avoided as it causes secondary constipation. Persons suffering from kidney infections should not take castor oil as a purgative. It should also not be used when there is abdominal pain or intestinal infections such as appendicitis, enteritis or inflammation of the small intestine and peritonitis. Large doses of castor oil during the early months of pregnancy may cause abortion.
Medicinal Uses
Castor oil is regarded as one of the best laxative and purgative preparations available. It is of particular benefit for children and pregnant women due to its mild action in easing constipation, colic and diarrhoea due to slow digestion. When applied externally, Castor oil eases cutaneous complaints such as ringworms, itch and leprosy. Castor is used for a range of industrial purposes from soap making to varnishes. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading suppliers and exporters of Coriander powder.
Botanical Name: Coriandum Sativum
Coriander powder is obtained from the coriander seed of the coriander plant.
Corriander seed is the dried ripe fruit of an annual plant having sweet, citrus-like flavour.
Significance and Uses:
The aroma and taste of coriander powder blends well with all the other spices in the recipe. Its flavor complements many foods and never masks the presence of other ingredients. Corriander powder also adds freshness to the many spicy Asian dishes.
In Ayurvedic cuisine, it is valued for its antibacterial, digestive and diuretic properties. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading suppliers and exporters of Corriander Seeds.
Botanical Name: Coriandrum sativam L.
Coriander or Dhanya is an important spice crop having a prime position in flavouring food. The whole plant has a pleasant aroma. The fruit (seed) has delicate fragrance; seeds are pale white to light brown in colour.
Uses
The young plant is used for flavouring and garnishing curries and soups. The fruits (seeds) are widely used as condiments with or without roasting in the preparation of curry powders, sausages and seasonings. It is an important ingredient in the manufacture of food flavourings, in bakery products, meat products, soda & syrups, puddings, candy preserves and liquors.
In medicines it is used as a carminative, refrigerant, diuretic, and aphrodisiac. In household medicines, it is used against seasonal fever, stomach disorders, and nausea. View Image
Alfarid is a leading supplier and exporter of Fennel Seeds.
Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare Miller
Fennel seed or Saunf is a biennial, aromatic, stout, glabrous, 1.5 to 1.8 mtr high. The ripe fruit (seed) is small, oblong, cylindrical, 6.8mm long, straight or slightly curved, greenish yellow, deeply furrowed, 5 ridged and having agreeable aroma.
Uses
The leaves and stalk of fennel are used for garnishing and salads preparation. The fruits are aromatic, stimulant and carminative. They are also used for flavouring soups, meat dishes, sauces, pastries and confectionaries. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading suppliers and exporters of FenugreekPowder.
Botanical Name: Trigonella Foenum-Graecum
Fenugreek seeds are collected and cleaned to remove physical impurities, like adhered soil and dirt and are then these are dried and grounded.
Fenugreek is an annual plant that grows to an average height of two feet. The leaves and seeds are used in preparing extracts or powders for medicinal and culinary purposes. The powdered fenugreek seed is bitter in taste and has a strong and quite peculiar odor, having a beautiful golden yellow color.
Significance and Uses:
Culinary Uses: Fenugreek powder has been used for centuries as a spice in curries.
Medicinal Uses: Fenugreek has a long history of medicinal uses for numerous indications, including labor induction, aiding digestion, and as a general tonic to improve metabolism and health. It is used for the treatment of wounds, abscesses, arthritis, bronchitis and digestive problems.
The seeds are rich in dietary fiber and therefore helpful in lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Fenugreek also acts as a mild and effective laxative. It is helpful in lowering fever and treating gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is also used to induce childbirth and increase breast-milk secretion. The seeds are effective in treating bad breath and help restore a dulled sense of taste.
The ground seeds are largely used for flavoring cattle foods and making damaged hay palatable. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading exporter of Fenugreek Seeds.
Botanical Name: Trigonella Foenum Graecum L.
Fenugreek seed is the ripe fruit of an annual herb. This robust herb has light green leaves, that produce pods, containing 10-20 small hard yellowish brown seeds, which are smooth and oblong, about 3mm long.
The leaves of Fenugreek contain moisture, proteins, fats, minerals, fibre and carbohydrates
Uses
Fenugreek is used both as a food and food additive as well as in medicines. Fresh tender pods, leaves and shoots are eaten as curried vegetable. As a spice, it flavours food. Powder of dried leaves is also used for garnishing and flavouring variety of food. Fenugreek extract is used as a flavouring agent of imitation maple syrup. It is one of the principle constituent of curry powder.
The seeds are used in colic flatulence, dysentery, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, chronic cough and enlargement of liver and spleen, rickets, gout and diabetes. It is also used as a carminative, tonic and aphrodisiac. They increase the secretion and discharge of urine, relieve flatulence and promote lactation in nursing mothers. They also arrest any secretion or bleeding and have an aphrodisiac effect. They are the best cleansers within the body, highly mucous-solvent and soothing agent. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading suppliers and exporters of Red Chilli.
Botanical Name: Capsicum frutescens.
The dried chilli pepper is the ripe fruit of brownish-red to red species of plant capsicum.The fruit is eaten cooked or raw for its fiery hot flavour which is concentrated along the top of the pod. The stem end of the pod has glands which produce the capsaicin, which then flows down through the pod. Removing the seeds and inner membranes is thus effective at reducing the heat of a pod.
Whole dried chili peppers vary in length, red to brownish red in color. These are warm and peppery, having intense pungent flavor with a biting hot, sharp and cumulative lingering effect.
The name is spelt differently in many regions such as chili, chile or chilli. The Oxford English Dictionary shows ‘Chilli’ as the primary spelling while citing both Chile and Chili as variant spellings. Chile is most frequently used by Americans whereas chili refers to the Southwestern bean dish (chili con carne, vegetarian chili).
Red Chillies are available in whole dundicut form and ground/powdered form.
Significance and Uses:
Chillies are considered to be the universal spice of Pakistan. These are used in flavouring foods and in marinades for meat and prawns before barbecuing or grilling.
Pakistani chilli peppers are very hot and used in many countries for their taste, color and aroma. Perhaps the most surprising feature of chile peppers is their vitamin C content. Capsaicin also seems to have a positive effect on blood cholesterol, and also works as an anticoagulant. View Image
Alfarid is one of the leading suppliers and exporters of Sesame Seeds.
Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum.
Sesame is the tiny, flat, dried, oval-shaped seed of the herb Sesamum indicum. It has a mild, nut-like flavor which intensifies when toasted. It is characterized by nutty, oily, green and bitter flavor notes. Sesame seeds come in a variety of forms such as natural white, washed/ hulled and mixed crushed form.
Uses
Sesame seeds are used to add texture and flavor to a variety of breads, rolls, crackers, and salad dressings. These are highly valued for their high content of sesame oil, an oil that is very resistant to rancidity. View Image