One spice for passion. And one woman who knows its name.

In a scented shop in the enchanted town of Oakland, California, the mistress works her magic. One of a secret clan of women, Tilo deals in fenugreek, lotus root, chilies, cinnamon - roots, plants and powders from all over the world. Drawing on ancient wisdom, she measures out remedies to cure heartache, banish bad luck and rescue the wretched from life's wrong turns.

Adapting Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's acclaimed novel, director Paul Mayeda Berges and producer Gurinder Chadha concoct a film in which spices not only excite the senses, but can heal the spirit.