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Serious Spices

During our Bengali breakfast session, Milu showed me her spice tray. All the spices here are whole and unground, allowing them to stay fresh for longer. She explained that this type of tray is standard issue in Indian kitchens.
But the tray only her first line of defense in her never-ending war against boring food. This is her pantry. You can see the vast array of spices and flavorings that make up the core of her stock. I can't think of a better illustration of the palate of flavors that make up Indian cuisine.
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