| It is an interesting feature of world cuisine that | | | | explorers. Today, India is the world's leading |
| many of the spices that are synonymous with | | | | producer of many chilies. |
| particular cuisines did not originate in the area and | | | | Why Did the Spice Trade Originate in the First |
| are often not even grown there today. | | | | Place |
| This is because spices were the first global | | | | Why people would want spice is probably no |
| commodity and continue to be one of the most | | | | mystery to most people. Spice makes a large |
| important and largest markets in the world today. | | | | part of our life more enjoyable. |
| Spice Trade Started in Prehistoric Times | | | | But how the spice trade originated -- and why -- |
| By the time that man started writing down what | | | | is a bit more involved. |
| he was doing, spices were already an important | | | | There are notable exceptions, but most spices |
| part of daily life and were being carried around | | | | grow in the tropics. Many of them grow in only |
| the known world. | | | | one particular place or a certain "band" of climate. |
| Black pepper, "the king of spices," originated in the | | | | So naturally, to get to the tables of Northern |
| mountains of Southern Indian and is known to | | | | Europe and Asia -- or anywhere that they are not |
| have been as far away as Northern Europe over | | | | native -- would require travel. Any extended |
| 2,000 years ago. The money from the pepper | | | | travel requires crossing borders. And that would |
| trade literally built the ancient cities of Istanbul, | | | | necessitate trade and barter. |
| Venice and Genoa (and later the New World city | | | | It is said that pepper traveling between southern |
| of Salam, Massachusetts.) | | | | India and the tables of Europe passed through as |
| Lemongrass, so important to Chinese and | | | | many as 100 hands -- and the price doubled |
| Japanese dishes, grows in the hot tropics. | | | | every time! |
| Chili peppers, found so often in the dishes of India | | | | So a combination of desires -- for more flavorful |
| and Africa were unknown in this part of the world | | | | food and for riches -- is what led to the spice |
| -- completely -- before 1492. They are New | | | | trade and to spices traveling all around the world. |
| World plants that were brought back by the early | | | | |