1.   Lush mountains, fragrant spice and tea plantations drift via thick forests to fabulous sandy beaches and the stunning Arabian Sea.

2.   A plain pork roast gets a boost from this fragrant spice rub.

3.   One of my favorite dishes was pasta Indian-style, cooked with lentils and fragrant spices.

4.   Shellfish in Spicy Saffron Broth with Israeli Couscous is inspired by the flavors of a Moroccan tagine, a slow-cooked stew ripe with fragrant spices.

5.   Taking a cue from the composition of those mixtures, American cooks can get a sense of how best to use these fragrant spices in savory cooking.