Rajeev spice shop

Assalamu Alaikum, and Adab to my Hindu brothers.How is everyone doing on my community.I hope each of you is doing very well. By the grace of Allah and with your prayers, I am also doing well.Today, in the 4 week of Steemit Challenge 29, I will be participating in @dasudi mam , The Gastronomic Shopping Route" - Spice and Condiment Shop.

Contest from:- @dasudi mam

On a scale of 1 to 5, how would you rate the variety of spices and seasonings offered by this store?

As soon as you enter Padaganj market in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur district of Bangladesh, Rajeev spice shop stands out among the crowd of small shops. The scent of freshly ground turmeric, chilli and garam masala wafts from afar. Standing in front of the shop, even amidst the hustle and bustle of the market, there is a familiar, homely feeling. It feels like you've come to a trusted place to find the best ingredients for your kitchen.The store is not very big but well organized. Rows of spices in glass jars, plastic drums and packets are placed in such a way that each item is easily visible.

In front
In front

The color and fresh smell of the open masala shows that there is no room for old or stale products. Rajeev Bhai stood and supervised everything himself. His manners are so sincere that even a first visit will seem familiar.The variety of spices is the biggest strength of this shop.From common turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin to garam masala, panchphodan, biryani masala, kebab masala, chaat masala, different seasonings for cooking fish and meat, and even various dry leaves, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, pepper and other local and foreign ingredients are also available here.

Chili powder
turmeric

For those who want to cook with a slightly different taste, there are also special mix masalas.Such a rich collection in such a small store is truly surprising.I myself have bought spices from here a few times. Each time I noticed, the smell and taste of masala is much more natural and fresh. The difference is also evident in the taste of cooking. The prices are also relatively affordable, so shopping here is more satisfying than other stores in the market. Sometimes Rajeev Bhai himself would tell about new spices or suggest which would be good in a particular dish.Which gives additional benefits as a buyer.

What is the spice or seasoning that is always in your pantry?

Every time I go to clean out my kitchen shelves, one thing never ends up, and that is turmeric powder. No matter what kind of cooking I do, turmeric is like a daily companion. Pulses, curries, fish, meat, bharta or bhaji - cooking seems incomplete without a pinch of turmeric in almost all dishes. Not just for the color, it has a distinct aroma and taste, which makes the whole dish come alive.My relationship with yellow is like a childhood memory. When I entered my mother's kitchen, I used to see a big bowl full of fresh yellow powder.

bright leaves
Dal chin

Before starting cooking, oil was first heated in a pan and turmeric was added. The smell would spread throughout the room, and that's when I knew the cooking had started. Even today the same practice remains in his kitchen.Not only the taste but also the health benefits of turmeric have always attracted me. It acts as a natural antiseptic, boosts the body's immune system and also aids in digestion. So many times not only in cooking, but when you have a cold and cough, mix a little turmeric with hot milk. It provides a kind of comfort, which is difficult to find in anything else.

Inside
black cardamom

Although there are many types of spices in the market, turmeric is the most important for me. It works without anything else, but without turmeric you can't start cooking. Every time I go to the market, I buy turmeric first.Never run out.So if I am asked which spice I always have in my pantry, without a doubt I will say Turmeric powder. It is not just a spice,Rather, it is an integral part of my daily cooking and life.

Which spice or seasoning do you consider to be the defining ingredient of your country or city's cuisine?

To me, the first thing that comes to mind when I understand the taste of a country's or city's cuisine is the aroma of that region's own spices. And when we talk about Bangladeshi food, the spice that carries our identity the most is undoubtedly mustard. Many of our traditional dishes remain incomplete without the taste and aroma of mustard paste or mustard oil.Ever since my childhood, a bottle of mustard oil was always kept separately in the kitchen. Be it frying fish, bharta or cooking vegetables adding a little mustard oil can change the taste of the whole meal.

Coriander
Panchfodan

That pungent, pungent aroma is the signature of Bengali cuisine. Especially hilsa fish mustard batter, Shuntki bharta, potato bharta or mustard oil smeared with green chillies - just thinking about these dishes makes the tongue water.When I go to the village house, I can still see that mustard is being kneaded on a stone sieve. That taste of fresh batter cannot be found in any ready-made masala. Mustard not only enhances the taste but also adds a kind of homely warmth to the food. It seems that the story of our soil, river and rural life is hidden in this spice.

Coriander
cumin

Although the style of cooking differs in different regions of Bangladesh, the use of mustard is seen almost everywhere. Mustard is essential in everything from fish broth to bhartas, pickles, and even some curries. So even when I go abroad and smell mustard oil, I suddenly remember the country.All in all, for me, mustard is the true identity of our country's cuisine. It is not just a masala, but a symbol of Bengali food culture, tradition and passion. So don't hesitate to say,Mustard is the defining ingredient in the cuisine of my country and city.

My selfie

Products name	price BDT	price steem
Turmeric Powder ( 1kg)	150	20
Red Chili Powder	150	20
Coriander Powder	100	13
Cumin (Jeera)	200	25
Garam Masala	220	27
Five Spice (Panch Phoron)	200	25
Mustard Seeds	100	13
Black Pepper	400	50
Biryani Masala (Special Mix)	220	27