The kitchen is packed and busy for there’s food being cooked for the guests who will soon be visiting. It’s time to add a dash of the main ingredient: the masala! Out comes the masala box, and off comes the lid…then, the world stops spinning for a while. No, the box isn’t empty. Why, it’s full! But there are little lumps where there once used to be fresh and aromatic masala powder. A drop of water? A wet spoon? Who was the culprit? There’s no time to find, for the guests are coming soon!

An empty masala box isn’t the only thing that can keep you from using your favourite masala. There are numerous factors threatening to make your blended or pure spices useless. But it’s you Vs the villains of the Spice World.

Villain #1: Air

Air, and the oxygen that keeps us alive, is one of the main factors that can kill the essence of your spices. The only way to avoid oxidation, and thus increase the shelf-life of the spices, is to keep them away from air.

Villain #2: Heat & Light

Our treasured Spices are unfortunately photosensitive: they respond to light, by breaking down. The oils within dry down and the powdered spices lose their flavour. So, keep your spices away from direct sunlight, and heat as best as you can.