Monica Bhide 
Chef Raghavan Iyer late last year announced: “Turmeric Trail, a vibrant new line of roasted spice blends created to celebrate and bring the spirit of India to your kitchen. Turmeric Trail is launching with four signature blends, representing four distinct regions in India; Garam Masala. Mumbai Masala, Madras Masala and Chai Masala.”
I was lucky enough to receive samples of his spice mixes and cannot recommend them enough. Delightful flavors and really thoughtfully combined!
His team sent me the following description of what they offer:
“Garam Masala is known as a blend of warming spices, and this version toasts whole spices; cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns and bay leaves, when ground together make an amazingly complex blend.
Mumbai Masala like the boisterous metropolis on the west coast of India has bold flavors from red chiles, coconut and sesame seeds.
Madras Masala named for the famed city now known as Chennai, along the southern coast, is a combination of roasted spices, thai chiles, coriander, cumin, mustard seed, fenugreek, Kashmiri chiles, turmeric and legumes.
Chai Masala is part of the social fabric of India. This version features cardamom, black peppercorn, cinnamon and ginger.”
Initial sales for the spice blends will be online via the web at www.TurmericTrail.com
GIVEAWAY —-
Want to try some? Chef has been kind enough to agree to give away a small set of the spices to one Life of Spice reader.
Want to win? Enter a comment here and tweet and/or FB this giveaway! I will pick a winner on Jan 10th. Please note that this contest is open to US-residents only.
I would love to try these spices. Heck, I think I might just go order them without waiting …
I would love to try these spice blends. I love Indian food and cooking. Just a few days ago new neighbors moved in who are from Mumbai. I’m so excited to learn more about Indian cooking and it would be fun to share these spices with my neighbor.
Sigrid
Oh I would love to win this! I’m trying to spread my wings a a little more with different spices and this would be perfect!
I tweeted this giveaway as well!
There is nothing better than the smell of delicious spices in my kitchen!
I just got 660 Curries for Christmas so it’s only fitting that I try to win these spices.
I love spices! Enter me. I also tweeted the giveaway @icywit
Totally agree with the post.. I’ve tried these & they’re SUPERB!! (Please opt me out of the giveaway..)
Moved away from Mumbai 25 years ago but constantly try to recreate the tastes of my childhood – from the streets of Mumbai to the wineries of Northern California, from pao bhaji to bhel puri and fish curry from koliwada….. these would take me a step closer to reliving those experiences
Wow, so close to my heart 🙂 I would love to try these.
Raghavan’s recipes + Turmeric Trail spices = AMAZING!
I got these spices and one of Raghavan’s cookbooks for my brother for Christmas and he loves them! I have tried 2 of the spice blends and they are so delicious. I recommend them to all!!
I got these spices and one of Raghavan’s cookbooks for my brother for Christmas and he loves them! I have tried 2 of the spice blends and they are so delicious. I recommend them to all!!
These spices look heavenly. I would love to win them, but then again I may just order some!
I would absolutely love to win these spices. After many many years of saying I didn’t like Indian food too hot too spicy. I agreed to try a sm family owned restaraunt near us. I’m not sure which I loved more the food or family. They started me mild, after a few times worked up to med.heat the food was wonderful. They even gave me a few spices to try some at home. They gave me name of sm local store to get others. I’m slowly building a collection of spices -winning these would be so great. I’ll get busy trying new recipes. Thanks for the chance to win.
I have just begun a Paleo lifestyle. As I am adapting new ways to create dishes, new spices would be extraordinary! I am slowly learning to remove creamy sauces and cheeses from our dishes. More than ever, it will be necessary to change things up with spices! Thank you.
I am tweeting this giveaway now!
I would love to try these spices. Thanks for the chance!
Great! Would love to try these
I’d love to win these spices, but if I don’t (sad), I’ll still buy!
Absolutely love the descriptions of these blends and would be thrilled to win a sample! We just got The Indian Slow Cooker for the holidays and can’t wait to fill our kitchen with those wonderful aromas.
Would love to try these!
These spices sound divine!
I tweeted about this post and giveaway:
https://twitter.com/#!/picatasi/status/154343710715416576
I’ve loved Chef Iyer since Joan Nathan profiled him for one of her cookbooks, and no one makes a better sweet potato curry or apple raita. So exciting to see him offer these masalas! Perhaps we’ll finally put the idea of their being one “curry powder” to rest. Best wishes for a big success with these!
I love Raghavan Iyer’s book. It’s almost like my cooking Bible. I’d love to try his spices to get a taste from the master himself.
Sounds awesome–I love Raghavan Iyer’s books. His recipes are wonderful so I am sure these spice blends are too!
I shared on Facebook. 🙂
I love Indian cuisine. Living in an area with no Indian restaurants to speak of, 660 Curries was invaluable – showing me how to cook my own Indian food at home. This in turn has enabled us to sample things we’ve never seen in restaurants and to enjoy a whole new flavor profile. I have several of the blends from his book stored in my freezer. Would love to try these!
OOH! We LOVE Raghavan Iyer in this house! His cookbooks are the best. It would be great to have a set of spices from him.
Wonderful colors! I bet they smell as good as they look. I would love to have them. Please keep up with the good work!
M
I’ve been such a big fan of Raghavan Iyer since I first heard him on the Splendid Table a few years ago. I’m a novice at Indian cooking, but when I follow his recipes it gets me where I want to go. I would so love to try out his new spice mixes!
I love all of Raghavan’s recipes, classes, and spices, Would love to win these! 🙂
Love to try them. I’m trying to be a better cook, but am afraid to try new things. I guess I need to “spice things up!”
It would be a joy to experience Raghavan’s spices.
I am so excited to sample Mr. Iyer’s spice line! Mazel Tov, sir!
I would love to try Chef Raghavan’s spices. It would be great to use them with one of his recipes from 660 Curries. I’m sure my house will be filled with some wonderful aromas!
I have been cooking out of Raghavan’s cookbooks for a few years now, but it is so much better to eat his food when he cooks it!! I guess I need some help 🙂 Having the spices on hand and all together will be awesome!
MJ
Bret Bannon – you win the spices. Please email me your address and I will get the package to you.
THanks all for entering.
Good for you, Bret. Please let us know what recipes you try with your new spices and let us know what you think.
Folks – I am supporting a local VA scientist who has started her own line of spices. I love her work and think you will too – https://monicabhide.com/2012/01/aromatic-spice-blends.html