Earth's Edible Treasures

Spices have shaped history, influenced today’s global trade, and even sparked wars! Curious about how spices came to be? It is the hunt for spices that has led Europeans to explore oceans and lands. Today’s global trade routes were established by the search for spices. Continue reading about their history in "A Brief History of Spices"!

Spices come from plants or trees. They are usually in the dried form—they can be harvested from fruits (pepper), bark (cinnamon), roots (ginger), or seeds (coriander seeds). Spices may be whole or powdered. Spice powders may have one or more spices roasted and blended. They can be used as seasoning. You can also make spice blends and hot sauces (Curious about the chemistry of hot sauce? Continue on to "The Science of Hot Sauce: What Makes It Spicy?").

Spices make us think of the kitchen. In the kitchen, they add smell, taste, color, flavor, richness, complexity, and more to food (and drinks: read more about their use in tea and drinks in the Meg A. Mole Interview with Joseph Wiener). The properties of the spices are because of the essential oils they contain (read more in "Spice Up Your Senses: Scent-sational Essential Oils".). Herbs are also used for adding flavor. But they are the leafy portion—like cilantro (leaves) is the herb vs coriander seeds are the spice.

Spices are used in aromatherapy (use of smells for better health; lavender), in making perfumes (anise), medications (capsaicin), incense (cinnamon), cosmetics (turmeric), as insect or animal repellents (garlic/peppermint), home décor (scented wreaths), in religious rituals (cumin), and for their many health benefits (fennel for digestion). They are used in home remedies, too. Cloves are often used for toothaches. They contain a chemical, called eugenol, that naturally soothes pain. However, one small difference in their structure can drastically change their flavor, smell, and how they are used (perform the activity "Small Changes in Structure can Lead to Big Changes in Fragrance" to learn more).

Now you know how spices have many purposes in our everyday lives. They are treasures that also remedy some health issues. But, as always, consume them in moderation. You are now invited to explore the world of spices. You will learn where they come from, how they act, and have fun in the process of finding out all about their hidden lives!

 

A Brief History of Spices

Spices are as old as humankind itself! They have led to the creation and loss of empires. Even new continents were discovered because of spices. There are numerous spices mentioned in the Bible, such as mint, dill, and cumin. Mohammed in the Koran co-owned a shop that stocked spices. In the Hindu Vedas, chilies are spoken of as the child of the Fire God. Spices have a lot of history! But where do they come from?

Early humans accidentally discovered that food wrapped in certain leaves tasted better or even spoiled less quickly. Nuts, stems, seeds, fruits, leaves, roots, bark, etc. were used similarly. The best spices were often hard to find. The search and demand for spices often made huge changes to how people lived and did business.

Spices were highly sought after by the countries in Western Europe. Asian and Mediterranean countries were the places that grew spices at the time. Selling spices was a profitable business. The countries with the spices as well as the European merchants profited from them. Europeans took spices back with them on camels along a network of trade routes called the Silk Road. The Silk Road thus impacted many countries like China, India, Egypt, Persia (Iran today), Arabia, and Rome.

By this time, Europe was starting to use more and more spices. This created a demand, causing spices to become more costly. Spice sellers were in it for the money. The Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch all competed for spices and resources in Asia and the Middle East. Wealthy merchants looked for ways to quickly reach the regions where spices were abundant. To meet that demand, the Western Europeans sailed long distances to bring back more spices as they could become rich. Several of the trips ended up finding people, lands, and spice treasures unknown to Western Europe. Christopher Columbus on one such travel accidentally landed on an island in the Americas.

Scientific advances in growing techniques have made growing spices in other parts of the world possible. With the many routes for spice transport, spices became more common. Their prices eventually began to fall. But the complicated history and the global impact remain. The lasting flavors, colors, and scents of spices continue to find new valuable uses today in cooking, religion, medicine, perfumery, and more.

Today, we use spices in everyday things and in more interesting ways. What is your favorite spiced item? Cinnamon rolls? Wasabi ice cream or chile chocolate? Or turmeric and pepper in milk, maybe?