Oleoresin (Oleo + Resin) is a homogeneous mixture comprising of resin and oils that are volatile in nature. Before understanding the details of Oleoresins, let us first look at the nature of resin. Resin is obtained from many plants, especially coniferous trees, as a hydrocarbon secretion. And as far as its usage is concerned, no one is unaware that resin is used as adhesives and varnishes. Oleoresin draws its source indirectly from plants due to the nature of resin. Spices are used for flavour, colour, aroma and preservation of food or beverages. Spices may be derived from many parts of the plant: bark, buds, flowers, fruits, leaves, rhizomes, roots, seeds, stigmas and styles or the entire plant tops. The term ‘herb’ is used as a subset of spice and refers to plants with aromatic leaves. Spices are often dried and used in a processed but complete state. Another option is to prepare extracts such as essential oils by distilling the raw spice material (wet or dry), or to use solvents to extract oleoresins and other standardized products. There are many texts which provide an overview of the industry in general or for specific crops. Oleoresins can be defined as natural resinous plant extractions. They are also referred to as aromatic liquid preparations made out of the combination of botanical matter extraction and solvents (i.e. resin + essential oils). The non volatile components present in Oleoresins characterize the color, flavor and the other aspects of the raw material. Uses & Application The oleoresins and spice oils are preferred because of their microbiological advantages, uniformity in flavor and pungency, easy to store and transport. They have several applications like in the preparation of beverages, soup powders, confectionary, curries, noodles, sauces, canned meat etc. Pepper Oleoresin: Ginger Oleoresin: Chilli or Capsicum Oleoresin: Cardamom Oleoresin: Cloves Oleoresin: Turmeric Oleoresin: Cumin Oleoresin: Coriander Oleoresin: Market Survey India is one of the major Asian production and trading centre of spices, its derivatives and also culinary herbs. India is a land of spices and herbs. Spice extracts offer an enrichment of flavour, colour, and taste to meet the diverse needs of food processing industry. India is known as the home of spices and produces a wide variety of spices like black pepper, cardamom, ginger, garlic, turmeric, chilli and a large variety of tree and seed spices. India is a producer, consumer and exporter of most of the spices and spice products. Spices constitute an important group of horticultural crops. The marketing of spices is not a new activity; the spice trade has been in practice for more than thousand years, across continents. However, over a period of time, trade practices have changed. This exploratory study is to understand the logistical operations of spice trading. Spice and derivatives market is booming because these products find applications in a number of industries including pharmaceutical, medicine, beverages, food processing, personal hygiene products. Future scope The demand of spice oils and oleoresins in the developed countries is increasing day by day as more and more spicy snacks are being introduced by fast food chains with standardised tastes. The spice oils and oleoresins are specially suitable for such snacks in that they can be used very conveniently (without any handling of the raw spice like ginger, chilli, onion, etc.) and producing a standardised effect on taste. Few Indian Major Players are as Under:- Akay Flavours & Aromatics Ltd. Global Green Co. Ltd. Kancor Ingredients Ltd. Novo Agritech Ltd. Sijmak Oils Ltd. South East Agro Inds. Ltd. Synthite Industries Ltd.
