Table of Contents
What is the oldest known spice?
ONE OF THE OLDEST SPICES KNOWN TO MAN. Cinnamon has been traded around the entire world since before the 1500s. Indonesian sailors began trading cinnamon to Madagascar and the east coast of Africa in the first century AD.
When did nutmeg come to England?
The French planted the seeds on their colony Mauritius, and the Dutch monopoly was broken. Finally, the British occupied the islands from 1796 to 1802, and were then able to grow nutmeg in Penang and Singapore and thereafter in their other possessions.
When did nutmeg come to America?
Nutmeg prices dropped dramatically by the middle of the 19th century, and dominated the flavors of American food in the 1840s to 1860s.
What spices do Egyptians use?
Cumin is the most commonly used spice. Other common spices include coriander, cardamom, chili, aniseed, bay leaves, dill, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, mint and cloves. Common meats featured in Egyptian cuisine are pigeon, chicken and duck.
What was nutmeg used for in the Middle Ages?
For the most part, medieval Europeans used nutmeg for the same medicinal properties as the Arabs and Indians, especially for intestinal ailments. Medieval Europeans also believed it warded off the plague.
What spices did they use in medieval times?
The major spices during the Middle Ages were: black pepper, cinnamon, ginger and saffron. Another common spice, galangal which is akin to ginger was also widely used. Today galangal has all but disappeared from the European spice vocabulary.
What was the third spice?
Besides pepper and cloves, there was a third spice which helped usher in the discovery of the Americas and an alternate route to the East that previously had only been accessible by a long overland journey on the Silk Road; nutmeg. Nutmeg is more pungent and sweeter than mace.
What is nutmeg used for in cooking?
In the United States, nutmeg is commonly used for sweet pastries and cocktails. Pumpkin Spice is incomplete without nutmeg as is any apple or pumpkin pie recipe. Classic old-fashioned cake donuts are principally spiced with nutmeg or mace. Nutmeg pairs well with savory dishes too.
What is the red stuff on nutmeg?
The inner seed is enveloped by a bright red aril known by spice traders as mace. If you stroll past a nutmeg tree on a sunny beach, you may spot the yellow, peach-like fruits drooping high in the branches. When the fruits are ripe, they split open revealing the crimson mace aril, signaling the spices are ready for harvest and curing.
Where does nutmeg grow best?
Nutmeg trees grow best on tropical, humid islands with sandy soil. The Spice House’s premium nutmeg and mace come from the Caribbean island of Grenada, where it is still harvested by hand. Skilled workers delicately remove the crimson veil of mace from the nut, and dry it in the sun for up to two weeks.
Who smuggled nutmeg to Mauritius?
1770 French spice traders successfully smuggle nutmeg trees to the island colony of Mauritius, inciting the downfall of the Dutch nutmeg monopoly. This is done by none other than Pierre Poivre (anglicized as Peter Pepper), a famous French botanist who introduced many spice plants to other French colonies.