Herbs and spices
Herbs and spices are added to food and drinks in small amounts for their taste, and sometimes for medical purposes or as a food preservative.
Spices have long been quite important in world trade. They were traded along the Silk Road and were a major reason for European exploration and colonisation during the Age of Discovery. At one time, some spices were amazingly expensive—in medieval London, pepper cost more than its weight in gold—but today most can be had in many places at moderate prices.
UnderstandAs a general rule, spices are more diverse and hotter in tropical climates, with cuisines such as the Mexican cuisine and the South Asian cuisine known for their heavy use of herbs and spices.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Herbs and spices" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0