Table of Contents
- 1 Why do most spices come from Asia?
- 2 Where did nutmeg and cinnamon originate?
- 3 What spices came from the East Indies?
- 4 What cultures use nutmeg?
- 5 What spices come from Southeast Asia?
- 6 What are the most important ingredients and spices in Southeast Asia?
- 7 Where does cinnamon come from?
- 8 Where do cloves come from?
Why do most spices come from Asia?
There is high diversity in flora in South East Asia due to a climate that enables plant life to flourish. Thus rule out regions with colder climates and dryer climates. With more species, there is a higher probability that some will produce flavorful byproducts that are not poisonous to humans.
Where did nutmeg and cinnamon originate?
Interestingly, both cinnamon and cloves have the same essential oil, eugenol. Mystica fragrans is a “two-fer” source for mace and nutmeg. Nutmeg is the inner kernel of the outer layer or aril, mace, from the fruit tree Myristica fragrans. Nutmeg was originally found in the Bandu Islands, also part of Malaku, Indonesia.
Where did spices like pepper and cinnamon come from?
Indian Origins Spices and herbs such as black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and cardamom have been used by Indians for thousands of years for both culinary and health purposes. Spices indigenous to India (such as cardamom and turmeric) were cultivated as early as the 8th century BC in the gardens of Babylon (2).
What spices are grown in South Asia?
South Asia
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Black cardamom (Amomum subulatum)
- Black cumin (Bunium persicum)
- Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
- Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
- Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- Curry leaf (Murraya koenigii)
- Indian bay leaf (Cinnamomum tamala)
What spices came from the East Indies?
Spices such as pepper, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger, were used literally to spice up the taste of food, and for the manufacture of medicines. Wharfage books were used to show what ships brought in and out of ports.
What cultures use nutmeg?
Nutmeg is used in both Western and Chinese herbal medicine. It is most popular as a spice in food and drinks, and is also used in cosmetics and soaps. In ancient Greece and Rome, where nutmeg was rare and expensive, people thought it stimulated the brain. The Arabs have used nutmeg since the seventh century.
Where do spices come from country?
Production
| Rank | Country | 2011 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 1,525,000 |
| 2 | Bangladesh | 139,775 |
| 3 | Turkey | 113,783 |
| 4 | China | 95,890 |
Where do most of the world’s spices come from?
Most spices are grown in the tropical regions of the world, with some thriving in the cool misty highlands. Many of the seed spices come from more temperate areas, such as coriander seed, which is grown in Northern India, Africa and the wheat producing areas of South Australia and Western New South Wales.
What spices come from Southeast Asia?
It’s the lesser known spices – the common spices and herbs used in daily cooking throughout Southeast Asia – like lemongrass, bird’s eye chili peppers, galangal, Thai basil, kaffir lime leaves, torch ginger flower, Vietnamese mint leaves, coriander root, tamarind, pandan leaves, curry leaves and many more.
What are the most important ingredients and spices in Southeast Asia?
6 Essential Seasonings for Authentic Southeast Asian Cooking
- 01 of 06. Shrimp Paste. Ulana Switucha / Moment / Getty Images.
- 02 of 06. Fish Sauce. Ben Fink / Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images.
- 03 of 06. Vinegar. The Spruce / Connie Veneracion.
- 04 of 06. Soy Sauce.
- 05 of 06. Tamarind Paste.
- 06 of 06. Citrus (lime or calamondin) juice.
Is there a spice that tastes like cloves?
Cardamom is another last-resort spice that can stand in for cloves. The citrus-like and spicy flavor of cardamom is not as sweet as cloves; however, when cardamom is combined with cinnamon, you can achieve a similar flavor profile as cloves.
Where does allspice come from?
Allspice is the dried unripe fruit from the Pimenta dioica tree, and is native to Central America, southern Mexico, and the Greater Antilles—a group of larger islands in the Caribbean Sea. It was named allspice by those who thought it had the combined smell and flavor of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Where does cinnamon come from?
Where it comes from: Made from rolled, pressed, and dried tree bark, both cinnamon and cassia have a pleasing, woody fragrance and sweet flavor in both stick and ground form. The widely available brands tend to be made from cassia ( Cinnamomum cassia ).
Where do cloves come from?
They originated in Indonesia, and are also harvested in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Tanzania. Regardless of why you need a cloves substitute, it is important to understand your options.