Oleoresins

BUILDER OF NATIONS

The story of spices dates back to over 7000 years. It is a chequered history of lands discovered or destroyed, kingdoms built or brought down, wars won or lost, treaties signed or flouted, favours sought or offered.

The famous and often colorful history of the "Spice Routes" is replete with heady stories of conquests and wealth.

Amsar has applied the Naturally Occuring™ paradigm to its Oleoresins, providing you with Elite quality ingredients that define purity and choice.

Allium Cepa Oleoresin
Common Name: Onion

History: Onions have been grown since before recorded history. They were fed to workers building pyramids and were found in the tomb of King Tut. Onions are noted in the Bible as one of the foods most longed for by the Israelites after leaving Egypt for the Promised Land. They have been enjoyed by most cultures throughout history. Christopher Columbus brought Onions with him to the Americas. Their popularity quickly spread among native American cultures.

Allium Sativum Oleoresin
Common Name: Garlic
History: Garlic is native to central Asia, but its use spread across the world more than 5000 years ago, before recorded history. It was worshipped by the Egyptians and fed to workers building the Great Pyramid at Giza, about 2600 BC. Greek athletes ate it to build their strength. Garlic came to the Western Hemisphere with some of the first European explorers, and its use spread rapidly. In the United States it was first cultivated in New Orleans by French settlers. Missionaries brought it to California, where it is grown today.

Apium Graveolens Oleoresin
Common Name: Celery
History: Apium: from the German Eppich. Graveolens: from the Latin Gravis "grave, heavy" and Olens "smelling" from the verb olere. The Greek writer Homer referred to celery as "selinon". The Latin name was "selinun" and the French name "celeri" is similar to the name we use today. Celery is believed to be originally from the Mediterranean basin. Ancient literature documents that celery, or a similar plant form, was cultivated for medicinal purposes before 850 B.C.

Brassica SSP. Oleoresin
Common Name: Mustard
History: The name "mustard" is given to various species, the most common being white mustard (B. hirta Moench or Sinapis alba L.), black mustard (B. nigra Koch) and Indian or leaf mustard (B. juncea Coss.). Mustard is cultivated for its seeds which yield oils and are used to make a condiment. It is occasionally grown (like rape or green manure) as a cover crop for fodder.

Cinnamomum Tamala Oleoresin
Common Name: Cassia

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Oleoresin
Common Name: Cinnamon
History: Cinnamon has been popular since ancient times. Egyptians imported it from China in 2000 BC. Romans believed Cinnamon was sacred, and Nero burned a year’s supply of the spice at the funeral for his wife. Finding Cinnamon was a primary motive of world exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Coriandrum Sativum Oleoresin
Common Name: Coriander
History: Coriander is probably one of the first spices used by mankind, having been known as early as 5000 BC. Sanskrit writings dating from about 1500 BC also spoke of it. In the Old Testament "manna" is described as "white like Coriander Seed." (Exodus 16:31) The Romans spread it throughout Europe and it was one of the first spices to arrive in America.

Cuminum Cyminum Oleoresin
Common Name: Cumin
History: An ancient spice, Cumin is native to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and Egypt. Currently it is grown in many places, as it is rather easy to grow and adapts well to many climates. Cumin is one of the ancient spices, a favorite of the Romans and it is mentioned in the Old Testament. During medieval times, it was favored in Europe and Britain, but it seems to have gradually lost favor in those places. The increasing popularity of Mexican influenced foods is boosting the sale of cumin

Curcuma Longa Oleoresin
Common Name: Turmeric
History: Turmeric, with its brilliant yellow color, has been used as a dye, medicine, and flavoring since 600 BC. In 1280, Marco Polo described Turmeric as "a vegetable with the properties of saffron, yet it is not really saffron." Indonesians used Turmeric to dye their bodies as part of their wedding ritual. Turmeric has been used medicinally throughout Asia to treat stomach and liver ailments. It also was used externally, to heal sores, and as a cosmetic.

Elettaria Cardamomum Oleoresin
Common Name: Cardamon
History: As early as the 4th century BC Cardamom was used in India as a medicinal herb. Greeks and Romans imported it as a digestive aid. In Sweden it has become a more popular spice than cinnamon.

Ferula Foetida Exudate Oleoresin
Common Name: Asafoetida

Foeniculum Vulgare Oleoresin
Common Name: Fennel Seed
History: Fennel is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean area. The name comes from the Greek word for "marathon" because the famous battle at Marathon (490 BC) against the Persians was fought on a field of Fennel. Pliny said that snakes casting off their skins ate Fennel to restore their eyesight.

Murraya Koenigii Oleoresin
Common Name: Curry Leaf

Myristica Fragrans Mace Oleoresin
Common Name: Nutmeg
History: The Roman philosopher Pliny wrote about Nutmeg and mace in the first century. Indian Vedic literature recommended Nutmeg for bad breath, headaches, and fever. Arabian writing mentions its uses as an aphrodisiac and stomach medicine. Middle Eastern traders brought Nutmeg and mace to Southern Europe in the sixth century, and they were well-known by the twelfth century from Italy to Denmark. The Portuguese found Nutmeg trees in the Molucca Islands, and dominated the Nutmeg and mace trade until the Dutch overcame it in 1602. Unaware that the spices came from one tree, one Dutch official ordered the Moluccan islanders to plant more mace trees, and fewer Nutmeg trees. Nutmeg production spread to the West Indies, Trinidad, and Grenada under the British in the 1800s.

Nigella Sativa Oleoresin
Common Name: Kalongi

Ocimum Basilicum Oleoresin
Common Name: Sweet Basil

Ocimum Sanctum Oleoresin
Common Name: Holy Basil

Piper Nigrum Oleoresin
Common Name: Pepper

History: Since the Roman times, Pepper has been the most important spice. The cities of Alexandria, Genoa, and Venice owed their economic success to Pepper. Three thousand year old Sanskrit literature mentions Pepper. It was one of the earliest items traded Asia and Europe. In 1101, victorious Genovese soldiers were each given two pounds of Pepper as a gift for their successful Palestinian conquest. In the Middle Ages, Europeans often used Pepper to pay rent, dowries, and taxes, and Shakespeare mentions Pepper in his plays. The need for Pepper inspired Spanish exploration and spice trade in the 15th century.

Syzygium Aromaticum Oleoresin
Common Name: Clove

History: Cloves are native to the Molucca Islands, now a part of Indonesia. Cloves have been used for thousands of years. One of the earliest references to them says that the Chinese, in order to approach the emperor, had to have a few Cloves in their mouths to sweeten the breath. Cloves were once very costly and played an important part in world history. Wars were fought in Europe and with native islanders to secure rights to the profitable Clove business. Natives in the Molucca Islands planted a Clove tree for each child born. They believed that the fate of the tree was linked to the fate of that child. In 1816, the Dutch set a fire to destroy Clove trees and raise prices. The natives revolted in a bloody battle which changed the climate and politics of the area forever.

Trachyspermum Ammi Oleoresin
Common Name: Ajowan

Trigonella Foenum-Graecum Oleoresin
Common Name: Fenugreek

Zingiber Officinale Oleoresin
Common Name: Ginger

History: No one is sure how old Ginger is, or where it came from, since it has never been found growing wild. It was first cultivated by the Chinese and Indians. It was one of the important spices that led to the opening of the spice trade routes. The name Ginger comes from the Sanskrit word "sinabera" meaning "shaped like a horn" because of its resemblance to an antler. In the 19th century it was popular to keep a shaker of Ginger on the counter in English pubs so the patrons could shake some into their drinks. This practice was the origin of ginger ale.