Poudre Retour des Indes® is the most emblematic spice blend from Épices Roellinger and the product that laid the foundation for the brand’s identity. Created by Olivier Roellinger in 1982 as his very first spice composition, this blend was developed to express the maritime history of Saint-Malo and his fascination with the historic spice routes connecting Europe and the East.
Composed of a carefully balanced selection of 14 spices, including turmeric, coriander, star anise, mace, Sichuan pepper, cumin, thyme, and mustard, it delivers a warm, aromatic, and subtly exotic profile with remarkable depth and complexity. Originally created for Roellinger’s signature John Dory dish, the blend became a defining element of his culinary language and later evolved into one of the flagship products of the Épices Roellinger house.
Designed primarily to complement fish, shellfish, and coconut-based sauces, Poudre Retour des Indes combines French gastronomic precision with inspiration drawn from historical global spice trade traditions. More than a seasoning, it represents the brand’s philosophy of treating spices as aromatic compositions with narrative, memory, and culinary purpose.
Today, it remains one of the most iconic gourmet spice blends in France and a benchmark product within the premium spice category.
Producer
Épices Roellinger is a French gourmet spice house founded by chef Olivier Roellinger, closely linked to the maritime heritage of Saint-Malo and Cancale in Brittany. The brand grew out of Roellinger’s culinary work, where he began using spices as an aromatic language in 1984, inspired by the historic spice routes and the old trading culture of Saint-Malo.
Today, Épices Roellinger offers rare spices, peppers, salts, oils, vinegars, vanilla, seaweeds and original spice blends created with a distinctly French culinary sensibility. Its philosophy is based on direct sourcing from selected producers, freshness of harvest, and a strong preference for organic, sustainable, wild or agroecological ingredients.
The house is especially known for its original spice blends, designed not as generic seasonings but as precise culinary compositions connected to memories, journeys, places and dishes. Production and blending are associated with the Maison du Voyageur in Cancale, while the brand also operates boutiques in Cancale, Saint-Malo and Paris. Épices Roellinger is regarded as one of the reference names in the French gourmet spice world, valued for traceability, craftsmanship and its ability to translate the history of spices into contemporary cuisine.