Spices

History: The first mention of spices from history It is said that some plants were used to season meat as early as 50,000 years ago, but the first archaeological finds date back to the Neolithic period, i.e. 8 to 5 thousand years before Christ, when cumin and poppy seeds were used.

The earliest written accounts of the use of spices are known from China. Another piece of evidence is preserved clay tablets on which there were mentions of saffron, thyme, dill, fennel, sesame and coriander, originating from the then Sumerian Empire, i.e. 4000 years before Christ.

The ancient Egyptians already had access to the first exotic types of spices, because thanks to their advanced civilization and the strategic location of the country, they made extensive use of anise, Roman cumin, mustard seeds, cinnamon or coriander.

History:

Can you imagine paying with pepper? In the time of Alexander the Great, it was possible because pepper was one of the most sought-after and rare spices and was the privilege of the wealthy class of the population.

In 410 AD, he paid Rome 5,000 pounds of gold, 30,000 pounds of silver, 4,000 pounds of silk, and 3,000 pounds of pepper for peace, yet it was of no use to them and the city was completely captured and sacked, ending the dominance of the Roman Empire.

Trade links were severed and the people of Europe were dependent on Arab traders who completely controlled the spice market. The turning point came almost 600 years later when, as a result of the Crusades, Europe resumed trade with Asia and a new era of maritime trade began. Spices flourished in the Middle Ages.

In 1298, Marco Polo wrote a wonderful travelogue in which, among other things, he mentions the Indian pepper tree, which encouraged other sailors not only to discover unknown corners of the world, but also to import new spices to Europe.

Over time, new spices such as cloves, nutmeg, chili, allspice, paprika, cocoa and vanilla appeared in Europe. However, the struggle for the import of spices did not stop, so in 1602 the first joint-stock company was founded - the East India Company, which maintained a monopoly on spices (especially the export of cloves and nutmeg) for 350 years.

Aroma: The Greeks and Romans sought out aromatic spices and perfumes for their pleasant scent and aphrodisiac properties. Among the warm spices most often used in perfumery are cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and cloves. This category of ingredients emit strong and powerful aromas and last a long time.

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