Greeks and Romans imported spices and herbs to Europe and were using poppy and caraway seeds for making bread. Hippocrates, who is regarded as the father of medicine, was already emphasizing the healing properties of herbs and spices. Romans started using herbs and plants for balms and oils after the bath, and they also put them into wine to enhance the flavour.
In the Arabic world, herbs and spices have a long tradition. As traders with Ancient Greeks and Romans, Arabs held a monopoly on spices for centuries and gained a great knowledge about distilling essential oils from plants.
In the Middle Ages of Europe, spices were extremely expensive and were a symbol of wealth. Italian explorer Marco Polo, and his famous Silk Road, introduced a variety of spices and herbs from China to Europe and sparked curiosity in other adventurers, such as Vasco de Gama and Christopher Columbus, among others, to embark on their own journeys around the world to bring more spices to Western culture, among other discoveries.
When I used to live in India, I was introduced to all different spices which are a staple of Indian cuisine. An Indian curry, which taste varies not only from North to South and East to West of this subcontinent, but literally from family to family. The beauty of Indian food is the endless variety. If you are a meat lover you can enjoy your meat or fish curry. If you prefer a vegetarian dish, India is a perfect destination to satisfy your vegetarian palate. When I saw so called Masala Dabba, which is a box of spices, for the first time, it was like a magic box full of colors and flavors from which you can create your own curry. Even traditional Indian tea called masala chai is full of flavors. One day I visited the famous Crawford Market in
Mumbai which is a must when you live in this city. As I strolled through a spice market, the aromas and vibrant colors of curry powders were overwhelming. There were so many of them and the taste of each single powder was completely unique. My smell and taste buds were delighted by this special experience. What did I take from my years spent in India? Every Indian family has a family secret recipe of their own curry which is a unique composition of flavor and color.
In addition to making food taste great, spices and herbs have a very old history, migrating hand in hand with the rich history of humankind.