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Though it may be hard to credit it today, for at lest three thousand years (and probably much longer) spices have been the driving force behind much of the world's economy (if you don't beleive me, read my article on the spice trade. For much of this time spices were actually much more expensive than gold or silver and salaries could be paid in pepper. By the fifteenth century the effective embargo on the spice trade to Europe imposed by the Ottoman Empire directly cause the European 'Age of Exploration' leading to the discover of the Americas and also led to the later 'Age of Expansion'. Thus were it not for the spice trade world history would be much different from what it is today.
Before it's possible to begin a history of the spice trade we need to define what precisely is meant by a spice. In terms of a moderrn definition, a spice obtained from the dried fruiting body of a plant. Thus it can be the whole fruit (as in cubeb pepper or allspice berries or cumin) or it is the kernel or seed of the fruit (as in nutmeg and fenugreek seeds or nigella seeds). In contrast, herbs are the vegetative parts of a plant (the stems and leaves) and include lemongrass (stems), thyme (leaves), oregano (leaves). One exception to this rule is the Methi curry leaves (which are the dried leaves of fenugreek) which is generally considered as a spice.
In addition the roots and bark of plants in their dried form are also considered as spices. Thus turmeric and wasabi are sipces (both derived from roots), as is cinnamon (a bark). This book concentrates on spices (with the exception of kaffir lime leaves). It's companion volume (currently being written) will deal with herbs.
In ancient times a spice seems to have been defined mare as anything that bore a strong aroma. Thus herbs, spices and incense could all come under the label 'spice'. Perhaps the most important aspect of an ancient 'spice' was that it should not be perishable and could be tarnsproted for many months with little loss of pungency. Indeed, it is the concept of 'pungency' and 'hotness' that define the sought-after characteristics of all the classic spices. However, many hot and pungent spices also have a bitter aftertaste — a characteristic which is not in the least desirable. This is why black pepper is the spice par excellence in that it is both pungent and has considerable heat to it but there is no trace of bitterness. Chillies, the other classic spice have considerable heat but no real spice-like pungency; though this can be an advantage in that they add heat to a dish without overly affecting the dish's inherent flavour.
Many other spices in the list given here (apart from the sweet spices used in desserts) represent the quest for food flavourings that are posessed of both pungency and heat. The reason why many of the spices listed are either not widely used outside their native realms or have declined in use is that they are also bitter (such as Sénégal Pepper and Zedoary root).
To use this guide simply click on the first letter of the spice that you're looking for (above or below). This will take you to a table of all the herbs that begin with that letter where you can chose the herb you want. There are over 50 herbs in his guide so far, including common and rare herbs and herbs used in cuisines from around the world, and you can search by common name and scientific name.
You can also use the search box below to find the spice of your choice. You can use the common name or the scientific name or any text you choose:
Just so you know what to expect, each time you refresh this page you will get a random spice displayed below. This is exactly the same kind of information as displayed on the main spice pages, which you can navigate through using the links above and below:
 Clove trees (Syzygium aromaticum, syn Eugenia aromaticum or Eugenia caryophyllata) are members of the Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family. It is native to Indonesia and used as a spice in cuisine all over the world. The name derives from French clou, a nail, as the dried buds, which forms the spice itself, vaguely resemble small irregular medieval nails in shape. Cloves are harvested primarily in Indonesia (Banda Islands, known as the 'Spice Islands') and Madagascar; it is also grown in Zanzibar, India, and Sri Lanka. The clove tree is an evergreen that grows to a maximum height of 20m and it bears crimson flowers in numerous groups of terminal clusters. The flower buds are at first of a pale color and gradually become green, after which they develop into a bright red, when they are ready for collecting. Cloves are harvested when 1.5-2 cm long, and consist of a long calyx, terminating in four spreading sepals, and four unopened petals which form a small ball in the centre. The name clove itself derives from French clou, a nail, as the buds resemble hand-forged Medieval nails. The clove is used extensively in cooking, both for sweet and savory dishes as it has both a spiciness useful for meat and an intense aroma useful in sweet dishes and cakes. Cloves are often studded in pork or in oranges to create mulled wine/beer/mead/cider. The spice is used widely throughout Europe and Asia and is utilized as a material for incense in China and Japan. Oil of cloves is widely used to treat toothache in dental emergencies. Cloves are also used to freshen the breath. The Clove is one of the classical spices of the ancient world and the secret of clove production was not discovered until 1512 by Portugese navigators. |
Hot Sour Confection
Chelsea Bun (Recipe 2)
Plum Catsup
If you enjoyed this Spice Guide secton of the sebsite then you will be interested in my eBook on Cooking with Spices and Spice Recipes. This eBook is sold on behalf of my One Million People Campaign to help Liberian children forced to flee their homelands due to civil war gain an education. So, not only are you supporting a worthy cause but you're also gaining an invaluable cookery resource for yourself.
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Below you will find links to other pages dealing with the various Spices described on this site
The Spice Trade
List of Spices 'A' List of Spices 'B' List of Spices 'C' List of Spices 'D' List of Spices 'E' List of Spices 'F' List of Spices 'G' List of Spices 'H' List of Spices 'I' List of Spices 'J' List of Spices 'K' List of Spices 'L' List of Spices 'M' List of Spices 'N' List of Spices 'O' List of Spices 'P' List of Spices 'Q' List of Spices 'R' List of Spices 'S' List of Spices 'T' List of Spices 'U' List of Spices 'V' List of Spices 'W' List of Spices 'X' List of Spices 'Y' List of Spices 'Z' The Guide to Spices and their Uses PDF file — It takes time and money to keep The Celtnet Recipe Site on the world wide web. You can help via the PayPal donation system: you remain anonymous as all eMail details are destroyed once your gift has been verified and a 'thank you' email has been sent. I need your trust and do not keep or sell eMail addresses. Once your donation has been made you will receive a copy of my The Guide to Spices and their Uses PDF file which contains a description of 57 spices along with recipes showing you how to use them. In addition the book contains recipes and techniques to create restaurant-style curries at home (recipes that are not on this website). Any donation you make goes towards the Help Stefan charity campaign. For more information see the Frequently Asked Questions. Also, if you purchase a book through any of the Amazon links below then a portion of the price will go to the maintenance of this site. Thank you for your help in keeping 'Celtnet Recipes' running. |
If you're looking for a particular recipe, or a recipe using a particular ingredient or set of ingredients, why not try my recipe search facility. You can even use a combination of period and ingredient such as 'Elizabethan Lamb' or 'medieval eggs'.
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One Million People CampaignIf you can spare $1 then help support this site and change someone's life forever? Learn how and why on the One Million People campaign page. Or donate $10 and get my guide to spices ebook or The Recipes of Africa eBook as a gift for your donation! |
Nigeria has a very vibrant and dynamic culture and this is reflected in the country's food. Staples remain stews ('soups' in West African parlance) and staples based on grains, cassava flour and millet. Here you will see two authentic Nigerian recipes to help you gain a flavour for this country's cuisines.
When you examine the history of drinks, what you see is the attempt by human civilizations to render drinking water safe. This article gives an introduction to the ways various civilizations have chosen to make water safe to drink as well as providing two recipes for a fruit juice drink and a spice infusion of lemongrass.
The article focuses on the Chinese construction machinery sector, its rapid development and changes that have taken place due to the global economic crisis.
Scottish cookery swings from the essential spartan nature of Highland Cookery, where the most is made of scant ingredients, to the richness of the recipes of the East Coast ports and border towns. Despite its reputation as something of a joke (which is, at least partially, deserved) Scottish cookery is alive and vibrant and represents a fusion of good ingredients, old recipes and modern techniques. Here, recipes are provided for a traditional highland meal and this is contrasted with a traditional rich cake.
Hazelnuts are an important part of the Autumn's bounty and humans have been collecting and harvesting them for many thousands of years. Today, however, we tend to use them only as nuts and do not cook with them. To re-dress the balance, here is an introduction to hazelnuts along with some hazelnut-based recipes for you to try at home.
British cookery is often treated as 'poor relation' in terms of European cuisine. And whilst this may well have been true in the past, there has always been one area of cookery where Britain has always excelled... the production of desserts. Here you will find recipes for two classic British desserts.
Spring is the time for new resolutions and to make the best of fresh and new ingredients. Spring lamb and fresh rhubarb are at their best now and these two classic recipes show off these ingredients at their best. Here you will see some of the best of traditional British cookery that will allow you to make a spectacular meal from these ingredients.
Beans are a classic storage food and have been a staple of the human diet for millennia. In recent decades, however, we have forgotten just how useful and versatile beans are. Here is a brief description of the importance of beans, with two classic bean recipes for you to try.
Chocolate is perhaps the most indulgent ingredient to emerge from the Americas. It was once considered a royal drink and prepared especially for the ruling elite. Chocolate itself is made from the cocoa bean and as such is actually, technically, a spice. It's hardly surprising that this magical substance has inspired a host of memorable quotations...
Fusion cooking is the blending of ingredients and cooking techniques from different areas of the globe. Though most people thing of Asian-influenced dishes as being typically 'Fusion' modern Fusion cuisines can represent dishes influenced by the foods of any region of the world. Though South-east Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Indian influences tend to predominate. Here you will learn a little more about fusion cookery and will be presented with a classic Australian fusion dish.
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