The Spice Trade Redrew the Map of the World
A spice is an aromatic plant substance used to flavour food. The search for spices drove European exploration for centuries.
A spice is an aromatic substance from a plant's bark, seed, root or fruit, used to flavour food. Spices were valuable enough to reorganise the world: nutmeg and cloves grew only on a few small islands in the Moluccas, and the search for a sea route to them sent Columbus west and da Gama round Africa. The Dutch and English fought wars over islands most Europeans could not place on a map. A *herb* is the leafy part of a plant; a *spice* is any other part.
- An aromatic flavouring. *Ground spices.*
- Herb — the leaf. *Fresh herbs.*
- To flavour. *Spice the stew.*
- Spicy — hot or piquant. *Spicy food.*
- Latin — *species*, goods. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | spice | A spice. |
| Plural | spices | Spices. |
| Verb | spice | Spice it. |
| Adjective | spicy | Spicy. |
| Latin | species | Goods, kinds. |
- Toast the spices before grinding.Cooking.
- Nutmeg grew on only a few islands.History.
- Herbs are leaves, spices are not.Distinction.
Which part of the plant
- Bark — cinnamon and cassia
- Flower bud — cloves
- Seed — cumin, coriander, mustard
- Root — ginger, turmeric
- Fruit — pepper, cardamom, vanilla
Old French *espice*, from Latin *species*, kinds or goods, later used of costly imported commodities.
What is the difference between a herb and a spice?
A herb is the leafy green part of a plant; a spice comes from any other part, such as bark, seed, root or fruit.
Are spice and species related?
Yes. Both come from Latin species, which came to mean goods or commodities, especially costly imported ones.