Spices That Keep Your Customers Coming Back (2026)

Indian cuisine relies heavily on a rich variety of spices that create its bold flavors, aromas, and unique taste profiles. For restaurants across Canada—Indian, South Asian fusion, vegan, halal, or international—buying spices in bulk is essential for consistency and cost savings.

This guide highlights the top essential spices restaurants must have, with priority given to the products available at OnlyFreshFood.ca. These spices offer the best value for B2B buyers such as restaurants, cloud kitchens, caterers, and meal-prep companies.


✔ Section 1: Core Indian Ground Spices Available at OnlyFreshFood.ca

These are the essential spices used in everyday Indian cooking, and all are available for wholesale through Only Fresh Food.

1. Turmeric Powder

Used in almost every curry for color, taste, and health benefits. A top bulk-buy item.

2. Red Chilli Powder

Provides heat and color. Restaurants often order multiple heat levels.

3. Red Chilli Crushed

Ideal for tandoori dishes, Indo-Chinese recipes, and marinades.

4. Coriander Powder

Mild, aromatic, and used for curry bases, lentils, and vegetarian dishes.

5. Cumin Powder

Essential for tempering and spice blends; adds warm, earthy flavor.

6. Garam Masala Powder

The backbone of Indian cuisine — a finishing spice blend added to curries, biryanis, and gravies.

7. Ginger Powder

Used for dry rubs, spice blends, chai mixes, and Indian snack production.

8. Garlic Powder

Ideal for marinades, gravies, snacks, and commercial food preparation.

9. Fenugreek Powder (Methi)

Used in curries, spice blends, and pickles. Adds an authentic Indian aroma.

10. Mango Powder (Amchoor)

Provides natural tanginess used in chaats, chutneys, and North Indian dishes.

11. Cinnamon Powder

Used in biryani masala, chai blends, desserts, and curries.

12. Black Salt Powder (Kala Namak)

A staple in chaats, raitas, chutneys, and street-food style menus.


✔ Section 2: Additional Essential Spices Used by Indian Restaurants

(These are commonly used in restaurants; OnlyFreshFood.ca may add them in future assortments.)

13. Cardamom (Green)

Used in biryanis, desserts, chai, and curries.

14. Cloves

Used in rice dishes, garam masala, and tempering.

15. Black Pepper Powder

Used in curries, biryanis, and tandoori marinades.

16. Mustard Seeds

Essential for tadka (tempering) in South Indian dishes.

17. Cumin Seeds

Used for tempering dals, curries, and chaats.

18. Fennel Seeds

Used in desserts, pickles, biryanis, and spice mixes.

19. Bay Leaves

Staple for gravies, biryani, and pulao.

20. Star Anise

Used in biryani masala and Indo-Chinese dishes.

21. Kashmiri Chilli Powder

Mild heat, deep red color for restaurant-style gravies.

22. Asafoetida (Hing)

Used for lentils, curries, and digestive recipes.

23. Curry Leaves

Essential for South Indian tempering.

24. Kasuri Methi (Dried Fenugreek Leaves)

A finishing ingredient in butter chicken, paneer dishes, and tandoori items.

25. Biryani Masala / Tandoori Masala

Pre-blended spice mixes for consistency in restaurant production.


Why Restaurants Should Buy Spices in Bulk

  • Lower cost per kilogram — huge savings on high-volume spices.
  • Consistency in flavor — same supplier = stable taste profile.
  • Reduced kitchen downtime — fewer last-minute shortages.
  • Better inventory planning for large-format kitchens.
  • Higher freshness when sourcing from professional wholesalers.

Why Buy Spices from Only Fresh Food (Canada)

  • Fresh, authentic Indian spices sourced from trusted suppliers.
  • Competitive pricing for restaurants and retailers.
  • Montreal & Calgary distribution hubs.
  • Fast shipping across Canada — Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal.
  • Strict Canadian food safety compliance.

Whether you run a large restaurant or a chain of ethnic grocery stores, OnlyFreshFood.ca provides reliable, high-quality spices at wholesale prices.


📦 How to Place Bulk Orders

Looking for bulk spice pricing? Contact us today for wholesale rates and product availability.

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