Vietnam has recently become the world's largest producer and exporter of pepper (85,000 long tons in 2003). Other major producers include Indonesia, India, Brazil, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and China.

Cloves can be used in cooking either whole or in a ground form, but as they are extremely strong, they are used sparingly. The spice is used throughout Europe and Asia. According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Indonesia produced almost 80% of the world's clove output in 2005 followed at a distance by Madagascar and Tanzania.

Black cardamom, as other spices used in Asia, needs some time to develop its aroma best. This behavior is shared by other ungrounded spices, like cinnamon, cloves and green cardamom, all of which are popular in South Asia. Although there are many distinct species of black cardamom, ranging in pod size from 2 cm (Nepal to North Vietnam) to more than 5 cm (China).

Cumin seeds are used as a spice for their distinctive aroma, popular in North African, Middle Eastern, Western Chinese, Indian, Cuban and Mexican cuisine. Cumin's distinctive flavor and strong, warm aroma is due to its essential oil content. Iran has been the principal supplier of cumin, but currently the major sources are India, Sri Lanka, Syria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

Cassia is not so much influenced by the weather as Star Aniseed. Therefore, the yearly output is rather stable, making the prices changes within a smaller range. Cassia is cultivated commercially and becomes a commodity in Asian and African countries including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar. However it only grows in certain places of these countries where climate, soil and terrain are advantageous to its development.