Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is often referred to as the “King of Spices” because of its powerful aroma. It is among the most popularly consumed and traded spices in the world. In addition to improving food’s flavour and serving as an antioxidant, black pepper has a variety of health benefits. It could stop cell degeneration, improve nutrition absorption, and aid with digestive problems.

Similar to black pepper, white pepper is sourced from the berries of the pepper plant Piper nigrum. What sets it apart from black pepper is the fact that white pepper comes from dried, fully ripened pepper berries. As the outer layer of berry skin is removed and leaving only the inner seed. As a result, white pepper tends to have milder taste than black pepper. White pepper is commonly used in Chinese and Western cooking. In terms of health benefit, white pepper has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, which helps to prevent cancer and promotes better digestive health.

Originated from Indonesia, cloves, also known as Syzygium aromaticum, are dried flower buds that come from the clove tree. Dried version of cloves are frequently used in soups, stews, and sauces because of their warm and pungent taste. Cloves are also one of popular spice to use in traditional medicine to treat inflammation and boost immunity since they are high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrant) is a tropical spice made from the dried seed of the nutmeg tree, a native Indonesian evergreen tree. When nutmeg seeds are ripe and dry, they have a thin, hard shell with smooth surface and dark brown color. Grated nutmeg often used in many Western desserts, savory dishes and warm beverages. Important vitamins and minerals are present in nutmeg, which also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that have a number of positive effects on health. These include reducing pain, fighting insomnia, supporting brain health, and preserving stable blood pressure.

Mace is a thin, bright red membrane that covers the skin of the nutmeg fruit. When picked when it is not ripe, mace will be pale yellow, then when dried it will be light brown. The taste of mace is similar to that of nutmeg but with a spicier and milder sweetness. Mace is commonly used as cooking or food and provides a distinctive aroma. In addition, mace can also be used as food preservatives and also can also be processed as an ingredient for making essential oils. The use of mace can also be used as a traditional medicine to cure various diseases such as dysentery, ulcers, flatulence, nausea and, and rheumatism.

Areca betel nuts originated from the seed of areca palm fruit, which can only be easily found in Southeast Asia. It is a popular fruit to consume in Indonesia and Southeast Asia, as areca betel nut has also been chewed alone, in the form of quids, wrapped in betel leaves, powdered or processed into mixture of tobacco. Areca nuts also has long been known to have various health benefits for the body as it is often used as an important ingredient for medicines to treat diseases such as schizophrenia, glaucoma and as digestive aid. It contains tannins, flavonoids, and polyphenols, and is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, hence it has various benefits for health.