The history of spices parallels the history of world exploration. Cavemen wrapped the meat in leaves from a nearby bush, accidentally discovering that the flavor of the meat was improved with the use of leaves, nuts, seeds, berries, and rind.
In ancient times, there were few ways to keep food fresh. The smell and taste of food was often unpleasant. Spices and herbs were used to mask the smell and taste of the food. It is no wonder that spices were so valuable to Europeans in the Middle Ages. The spices were so expensive that handfuls of cardamom and peppercorns were bought by selling slaves.
The “worlds” discovered by Columbus, Magellan, and others belong to their sovereigns, but the treasures were that the plants, fruits, spices company, and aromas they brought on their ships. The spice trade of the 15th and 16th centuries was dominated by Spain and Portugal. In the 17th century Boston-born Elihu Yale raised in England worked for the British East India Company, which had a monopoly on the entire spice trade in India. They imported the first shipments of nutmeg and cloves from Moluccas, Indonesia. Later R. Yale became the governor of Madras, India. His fortune in the spice industry helped endow Yale University.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, New England clipper ships dominated the world trade in peppercorns. It was so generous that they saturated the market and the value of the pepper was 3 cents per pound! At that time, the piracy of the Chinese seas made it too dangerous to chase spices.
In the 19th century, our compatriots moved west. In 1835, settlers in Texas combined various peppers from Mexico and produced chili powder. America had so many nationalities that they settled here, that it was difficult to find native spices to use. The food was so plentiful here that the need for spices began to change. Traditional recipes from ancient countries were changed.
The use of spices has been documented since 2600 BC. C. When workers built the pyramids, they were given onion and garlic. 460-377 B.C. Hippocrates documented over 400 medicinal uses for spices. Columbus was looking for a direct route to Spice Island when he discovered America. Due to the spices, wars were fought, new lands were discovered, and explorers surrounded the land. I hope this gives you an idea of the influence that spices have had on history.
Cooking has always been a source of pleasure and an expression of love for my friends and family. I have 10 years of restaurant management experience and have also attended weddings and parties. When I decided to do business for myself, CookinGadgets was born. This website has allowed me to use my second love, teaching. My website offers cookware, bakeware, knives, and a variety of cookware. For me, the best part is that I can share knowledge with the novice who wants to learn to cook. These items will be a way to inform and hopefully build confidence and creativity in the kitchen.
