Devagi Shanmugam

Devagi Shanmugam (b. 1956), widely known as Singapore's "Spice Queen," is a prominent Tamil chef and culinary trailblazer. She has authored over 20 cookbooks and promoted the appreciation of Asian spices and cuisine globally. 

Devagi’s culinary journey began with her mother’s home-cooked meals, which inspired her to pursue cooking after leaving school early to support her family. In 1983, Her World magazine featured her as Singapore’s best Indian cooking instructor, praising her lively teaching style. Her innovative spice appreciation classes in the 1990s earned her the title "Spice Queen of Singapore."

A seasoned culinary educator, Devagi has conducted workshops and training sessions worldwide, teaching chefs and home cooks the art of Asian cuisine. She has also judged culinary competitions.

She is the co-author of books such as Cooking with Asian Leaves, Cooking with Asian Roots, and Fun with Asian Food. Her recipes and articles are regularly featured in magazines, newspapers, and websites. She customizes cookbooks for clients and has served as a culinary consultant for publications such as Joo Chiat Home Cooking.

Devagi’s professional affiliations include membership in the Singapore Chefs Association and the Emirates Culinary Guild. Her expertise has been sought by many organisations, including the Health Promotion Board, where she served on the Culinary Consulting Panel for the Healthy Dining Award Programme in 2013, and NTUC FairPrice, where she worked as a culinary consultant.  Her 22nd cookbook, I am a Rice Cooker!, won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2017. Her influence and trustworthiness were further affirmed when Reader's Digest named her among Singapore's 55 most trusted individuals in their 2009 Trust Survey.



For more information
Devagi Sanmugam. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://devagisanmugam.com/the-chef/
“Chef Devagi Sanmugam.” The Kitchen Society. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://thekitchensociety.com/collections/chef-devagi-sanmugam
“Heritage Heroes: Devagi Sanmugam.” Roots.sg. Accessed on 1 August 2025. https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/heritage-heroes-devagi-sanmugam/story

தமிழில் வாசிக்க 

Return to home page

About the Encyclopedia

The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.