This paper examines the multifaceted role of spices in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s Mistress of Spices. The narrative employs spices for cultural preservation, emotional healing, empowerment, and mystical realism. Through close textual analysis, the study reveals how spices transcend their culinary origins to become potent symbols of identity, diaspora, and agency. Furthermore, the paper explores the feminist undertones of the novel, highlighting how spices empower women to confront patriarchal structures. The paper contributes to understanding the novel’s complex interplay of tradition, modernity, and magic by situating these themes within the framework of cultural studies and postcolonial literature.

Keywords: Spices, Cultural Preservation, Emotional Healing, Empowerment, Identity.