THE SPICES of life part I
Spices are mentioned in our earliest historical records. Some 2000 years ago, the spice trading routes extended from the west coast of Japan through the islands of Indonesia, around India to the Middle East and then across the Mediterranean to Europe. Some of the spices that were traded were worth their weight in gold — sometimes even more.
Spices have had a very big impact on so many of the dishes and drinks we prepare on a daily basis, so it makes sense to add some into the planting plan in your garden. The cost of buying good-quality spices these days is still high, especially if they’re organic, so why not grow your own spice trail in your backyard?
We begin our spice planting plan with five of our favourites. They are derived from the bark, fruit, flower buds, rhizomes and seeds of their various plants. On page 59 we have an easy project using cloves and oranges — perfect for the Christmas table.
CINNAMON, CINNAMOMUM VERUM (SYN. CINNAMOMUM ZEYLANICUM)
Cinnamon is among the most ancient of spices. Chinese cinnamon was mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible, while Ceylon cinnamon wasn’t known to the West until the 16th century.
The Egyptians used it for flavouring, medicinally and for embalming the dead,
