Synopsis
The extraordinary history of these everyday essentials
Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, chilli and more – spices elevate food across the world. Yet, the global advent of spices was a long and complicated process, one that stimulated cross-cultural exchange and economy in addition to tastebuds.
From giant birds building nests out of cinnamon, to the trade routes of the ancient world and early modern encounters between the English, Portuguese and Dutch that resulted in the first global war, Fred Czarra explores a wide range of facts and legends in his recounting of the fascinating history of spices. He shows how spices shaped the first era of globalization, which improved the economic conditions of some countries and peoples but also caused great harm to others and to the cultures they encountered.
Packed with colourful illustrations and interesting trivia, Spices: A Global History is a zesty, readable portrait of this essential ingredient of culinary history.
