Raw spices are derived from the bark, buds, fruits, roots, seeds, and stems of numerous plants and trees. Many different spices are used in Indian cuisine, ranging from whole spices to semi-crushed spices, powders, blends, and pastes.Raw, whole spices are prized for their nutritional and therapeutic characteristics as well as their layering effect in creating diverse flavors and fragrances.Buying whole spices and grinding them as needed is always the better option. This is because the oils in the spices dry up after grinding and the spices lose flavor as they age.