Gifts for Curry Lovers: Curry Spices Collection Spice Drops

In short: A thoughtful gift for a curry lover is the core spices of Indian cooking in a form that is quick to use. The Curry Spices Collection holds four award winning Spice Drops, Garam Masala Spices, Cumin Seed, Coriander Seed and Turmeric, made in Kerala and added near the end of cooking. Each 5ml bottle holds around 150 drops and keeps for up to three years.

Curry lovers often have a drawer of half used spice packets and a takeaway menu on the fridge. The Curry Spices Collection gives them four essentials of Indian cooking in small bottles, made in Kerala, the home of so many of the world’s spices. They add the drops near the end of cooking and the flavour is there straight away.

What is in the Curry Spices Collection?

• Garam Masala Spices Spice Drops, 5ml (Great Taste 2016, two stars)
• Cumin Seed Spice Drops, 5ml (Great Taste 2016, one star)
• Coriander Seed Spice Drops, 5ml (Great Taste 2016, one star)
• Turmeric Spice Drops, 5ml

How do you use Spice Drops in a curry?

Cook the curry as usual, then add the drops near the end of cooking, stir, taste and adjust. You can also stir them straight into yoghurt, dressings or melted butter, because they work in cooked or raw food. Every bottle comes with its own dropper.

How much should you use?

These ratios come from our product pages. Start with them, taste, then add more if you like.

What can you make with it?

• A quick chicken or vegetable curry finished with Garam Masala Spices.
• Cumin Seed stirred into yoghurt for a dip or raita.
• Turmeric in rice or batter.
• Coriander Seed in melted butter over new potatoes.
• Cumin Seed and Coriander Seed in a lentil dal.

Why are Spice Drops a good gift for a curry lover?

Each 5ml bottle holds around 150 drops and keeps for up to three years when stored in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, so the set will not be finished or stale within a few weeks. Spice Drops are made by Holy Lama in Kerala, India, where more than 80% of our workforce is women, and the range won best new ingredient at the World Food Innovation Awards 2015.

Spice Drops contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and are oxalate free. They are vegan, gluten free and alcohol free, and contain a plant derived emulsifier, polysorbate 80, which helps them mix into food and drink.

How are Spice Drops made?

Spice Drops are made at our own factory in Kerala, India, by a family business that dates back to 1946. The spices are crushed in a hammer mill or under a roller without heat, then extracted, and the solvent is removed under vacuum. For some flavours the distilled oil of the same spice is added back. Leafy herbs such as Mint are distilled essential oil only. The result is real spice flavour: the natural compounds that give each spice its taste and aroma are still there, such as piperine, which gives black pepper its heat.

How can you make it a bigger gift?

• Add our Cocktail Spices Collection for drinks to go with curry night.
• Add our handmade gift wrap, a fabric scarf they can keep, for £2.50.
• See every set in our Spice Drops gift collections, or read our guide to Spice Drops gift sets for every food lover.

Ordering for Christmas? Check our Delivery page for the last order dates.

Shop the Curry Spices Collection.