I sent a box containing various personal items and some items purchased in India via DHL to the US. Indian customs confiscated spices and tea that I purchased in India. They "destroyed" these items because they were not listed on the packing slip. These items were unopened and enclosed in sealed packages.

Does this generally happen? Do I have any recourse?

I don't think it has anything to do with the items themselves, but is the fact that the list of what the package contained did not include the items. I would guess that this is a security practice. Recourse...I would guess none since you made the list yourself and didn't include those items. You could call DHL and ask them about your experience though.

if it didn't happen there it might have happened upon arriving in your country....why would you think you could send something and not list items enclosed???

I often bring home spices and tea from my Asia trips in my luggage, I'm always very careful to declare them. Sometimes customs wants to look at them, sometimes not, but I've never had them confiscated. I expect that the problem is that you didn't declare them.

My question is..."Why didn't you declare them?"