Cultural Interactions with Spices and Herbs

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1 Emory University HLTH 385: Botanical Medicine & Health Cultural Interactions with Spices and Herbs Cassandra L. Quave, Ph.D. Center for the Study of Human Health

2 Learning Objectives 1. What are some ancient uses of spices? 2. List some spices from the Mediterranean, India, and from the Americas. 3. What is the relationship between the spice trade and the European renaissance? 4. What were the effects of the trade in nutmeg on European culture and for the culture of the Banda islands? 5. Do you think that globalization is a new or old phenomenon? Explain.

3 Spices & herbs often function as both food and medicine

4 Smell is 80% of what we taste Certain smells and tastes are particular to different cultures because of the plants they use in their cuisine either locally grown or harvested or acquired via trade routes

5 Ancient Egyptians Skilled perfumers >5,000 years ago Aromatic plants used at home and in religious sites, and for cooking, medicine, cosmetics, perfumes, and mummification processes

6 Ancient Egyptians and Embalming Spices like myrrh, cassia, cinnamon, anise, cumin were used to stuff the body cavity Not all of these were native to Egypt Where did these plants come from and how did they get them?

7 The Silk Road and Other Ancient Trade Routes 100 BC 15 th Century AD silk road trades

8 A Melting Pot for Culture Ancient spice trade led to cultural interactions between diverse populations Egypt Greece Roman Empire SE Asia (trade between Egypt and China dates to 1400 BC and criss crossed over Arabia and India) China

9 Alexandria, Egypt Black pepper, Ginger and Cinnamon from India and sold to the Mediterranean via Arab intermediaries. Ancient Alexandria was a center of the spice trade in the Mediterranean

10 Berineke, Egypt Inscriptions in 11 different languages found in ancient trade center. Example of globalization but 2,000 years ago? Ancient Berenike was a major maritime spice trade center.

11 What were spices used for in ancient world? Condiments or relish (nutmeg or mace) Food preservative Pickling meats Fortifying wine Concealing rancid smell and flavor of putrid foods (pepper and cardamom) Medicines (aloe & bdellium) and ointments (lakawood & sweetrush)

12 What were spices used for in ancient world? Aromatics, perfumes, & bathing (sandalwood, balsam, spikenard, cloves) Poison antidotes (putchuk or costum) Garment cleansing, disinfectants, deodorants and breath purifiers Religious rites with incense (myrrh, galbanum, camphor) Embalming (cinnamon) Art painters color mixing (safrron, turmeric)

Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian peninsula Balm of Gilead Used in:

13 Resins Myrrh Burseraceae family Commiphora molmol (Engl.)Engl. ex Tschirch Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Arabia C. gileadensis (L.) C. Chr. Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian peninsula Balm of Gilead Used in: Egyptian mummification Religious rites as incense Oral health (added to wine) Analgesic

14 Myrrh and ancient art The Myrrh Bearing Women. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God. (Monreale, Italy (Sicily)). 12th century Bringing Myrrh trees into Egypt. Mural from the temple in Luxor, Egypt.

15 Resins Frankincense Burseraceae family Boswellia spp. Used in: Charred resin made Egyptian kohl Religious rites Perfumes

16 Spices from India and Sri Lanka Cinnamon Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, Lauraceae Black pepper Piper nigrum L., Piperaceae Cardamom several plants of the genera Elettaria and Amomum, Zingiberaceae Gingers (Asia)

17 Demand for spices in Europe helped foster the Renaissance Fall of Roman Empire led to decline in spice trade Spices in the Dark Ages in Europe ( ) were mainly Mediterranean natives cultivated to a degree in monasteries

18 Herbs from the Mediterranean Saffron Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae Most expensive spice because made from stigma Mint family herbs (Lamiaceae) Carrot family herbs (Apiaceae)

19 Demand for spices in Europe helped foster the Renaissance Following the crusades (after 1090) there was an increased demand for spices as the crusaders acquired taste for the foreign spices. Venice and Genoa became trade centers especially for spices like nutmeg and mace Generated an enormous amount of wealth and this fostered the European renaissance

20 Cloves Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, Myrtaceae Nutmeg and Mace Myristica fragrans Houtt., Myristicaceae The Spice Islands Mace (red aril growing around nut) nutmeg

21 Capture of Constantinopole by Turks (1453) Loss of trade routes to Asia Loss of supply to nutmeg (and location was secret held by Indians) Impetus for the European age of exploration as they searched for new trade routes to get products in high demand

Marco Polo and Travels 1254 1324 Together

22 Marco Polo and Travels Together with romance writer, Rustichello (Parisian) he wrote an account of his travels while in jail during the Venice Genoa war )

Negative impact of spice trade Portugese were 1 st Europeans to find trade route to islands The same spice trade led to the exploitation and near extermination of other cultures Portugese: the route

23 Negative impact of spice trade Portugese were 1 st Europeans to find trade route to islands The same spice trade led to the exploitation and near extermination of other cultures Portugese: the route to the Spice Islands Dutch monopoly on Spice Islands 45 tons of nutmeg in one shipment Massacre of Banda people by the Dutch used 16 warships to decimate and kill or enslave the living in Java Fort Nassau, 1646

24 Allspice Spices in the Americas Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr., Myrtaceae Vanilla Vanilla fragrans Ames, Orchidaceae Chili peppers Capsicum spp., Solanaceae

Different cultures used similar species for aroma/spices Example: The ginger family (Zingiberaceae) Common ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe Galangal or Thai ginger Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.

25 Different cultures used similar species for aroma/spices Example: The ginger family (Zingiberaceae) Common ginger Zingiber officinale Roscoe Galangal or Thai ginger Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Myoga or Japanese ginger Zingiber mioga (Thunb.) Roscoe Fingerroot or Chinese ginger Boesenbergia pandurata (Roxb.) Schltr. Olena or turmeric Curcuma longa L. Black cardamom Amomum subulatum Roxb. Zingiber officinale

26 Typical spices/herbs associated with different cuisines Chinese: star anise, fennel, Schezuan pepper, ginger, chili Thai: Kaffir lime leaf, lemongrass, galangal cilantro, chili Japanese: black sesame, mustard seed, wasabe, seaweeds Mexican: paprika, cumin, chili, cilantro, oregano Indian: coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, tamarind, cardamom, chili

27 Key Concepts Fragrant plants have played an important role in diverse cultures for at least 5000 years The spice trade dates back at least 3000 years and led to interactions among cultures from Southeast Asia, Africa and India and the Mediterraean The desire for spices in Europe helped to foster the renaissance or rebirth of European culture;

28 Key Concepts European domination of the spice trade often very negatively affected cultural traditions where spices are produced Fragrant plants continue to play an important role in many cultures today although the significance and use of species changes over time.

Herbs in the Landscape and in the Kitchen

Herbs in the Landscape and in the Kitchen 1 Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food. Hippocrates 2 Dandelion Ground Ivy Tribal healing specialists knew the medicinal value of hundreds of plants