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The knowledge of every Indian mother and grandmother, since 1860.

A little taste of spice brings to life the rich cuisine of a country that prides itself on diversity, unity, love and strength — cooked the South African way.

South Africa's own Mother of Spice.

South Africa, the rainbow nation, can now cook Indian meals the South African way. Amma's Spice provides secret Indian recipes, spice knowledge and a full range of products — built on the knowledge gained from Indian mothers and grandmothers since 1860.

South African Indians have inherited a cuisine of their own: Indian at its root, South African in its spirit. Our recipe book, Amma's Spice — South Africa's Mother of Spice, Edition 1, is filled with mouth-watering recipes and a wealth of spice knowledge — spice descriptions, spice benefits and 101 easy recipes.

Experience the colour, texture and captivating flavour of exotic dishes that will tickle your tastebuds, and enjoy the wealth of facts about spice and its healing benefits. Amma's Spice brings delicious, nutritious meals made simple and inexpensive: aromatic masala spice mixes, tasty dhals, assorted breads, spicy pastas and pizzas, savoury snacks, delicious breyanis, bunny chows, fragrant curries and yummy desserts.

Amma's Spice and its recipes carry forward a legacy of Indian cuisine cooked the South African way — nutritious, low-cost meals, made easily and quickly, in your own home.

Amma's Spice recipe book cover, Edition 1

A cuisine invented out of necessity — and love.

South African Indians bring to life a rich cuisine in a land of diversity, where every culture can share and enjoy South African Indian cooking. To celebrate Indian people's contribution to South Africa, and to share it with the world, Amma's Spice ensures anyone can make a curry, bunny chow, roti or breyani easily and efficiently at home.

When Indians first came to South Africa, they had very little. Indian mothers and grandmothers implemented their own methods of cooking and mixing spices to enhance flavour, improvising and inventing recipes that blended Indian technique with South African resources and culture.

It's remarkable that South African Indians don't cook exactly like Indians in India — the technique is unique, richer and more heavily spiced, shaped by South Africa's own history and resources.

"The Bunny Chow was born in KwaZulu-Natal, when the first Indian workers in the sugar fields hollowed out a loaf of bread to carry their curry to work."

Without time to make traditional Indian bread, workers turned to the Western loaf, hollowed it, filled it with curry and topped it with the soft bread they'd removed — wrapped it up, and carried it to the fields. A South African classic was born.

Today, with Amma's Spice & Recipes, every South African can cook South African Indian dishes quickly and easily, with informative spice tips, descriptions and secret family recipes.

Traditional South African Indian spice blend

The Spear, or Vel: a gift from a mother to her child.

The symbol of a Spear, or Vel, symbolises the triumph of good over evil. It was the gift to Lord Muruga — an ancient Indian god — from his mother Parvathi, the Goddess of Power, to help him gain victory of righteousness and love.

The Vel's blade is wide, long and keen — just as our knowledge must be broad, deep and penetrating. It represents the power of righteousness over wrongdoing: when wisdom enriches the minds of the people, the land is filled with plenty for all to share.

Amma's Spice is, in the same way, a gift from all the South African Indian mothers and grandmothers who have shared their knowledge and wisdom of spice and cooking. Since the spear was a gift from a mother to her child, Amma's Spice — being the mother of spice — offers that same gift to the children of the land.

Every book sold feeds 10 children.

Mothers are compassionate, loving beings — and Amma's Spice values philanthropy above all, supporting worthy charities including Children of the Dawn, Alex Aids Orphans, schools, street children and old age homes. Thank you for your contribution.

3.7 million children, one waiting list.

According to the South African Child Gauge 2008/2009, South Africa counts some 3,700,000 orphans (aged 0–17) who have lost one or both parents. In response, Children of the Dawn provides rural South African communities with an effective, innovative model of care for orphaned and vulnerable children.

750+

orphaned and vulnerable children transformed over the past 10 years of the programme.

Mmasape's story

Mmasape is one of many children presently on Children of the Dawn's waiting list. She is only 7 years old, from a very impoverished family in rural South Africa — a single orphan on her mother's side, with her father unknown. She is cared for by her unemployed maternal aunt and grandmother, in a household with no income and no running water or toilets.

You can help change Mmasape's life by becoming her sponsor, or by finding a sponsor for her.

"For R240 a month, you could change the life of a little one and strengthen the whole community. For a Dawn Child, that's a month of food, toiletries, schooling, clothes and care — a new Dawn."

Visit: childrenofthedawn.org.za
Contact: Magali, 072 428 0939 or magali@childrenofthedawn.org.za