Spices & Herbs

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Spices Herbs
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Difference between spice and herb?

• No clear distinction
• Herbs usually leaves (sometimes seeds), usually
  from temperate-origin plants
• Spices usually flowers, fruits, or bark of
  tropical-origin plants

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Herbs

• Usually aromatic leaves
• Used in cooking
• Also, in shampoos, cosmetics, soaps, medicines,
  aromatherapy (e.g., Vicks vaporub, with camphor,
  menthol, eucalyptus oils)
• See Table 17a

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Spices herbs

• Scents flavors usually due to unique essential
  oils i.e., to secondary compounds, especially
  isoprenoids (terpenes).
• Natural plant function in pollinator
  fruit/seed-disperser attraction.
• And/or plant protection from herbivores,
  pathogens (mostly fungi, bacteria).
• Most of these secondary compounds have
  anti-microbial activities.

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spice

• Derives from the Latin word species, meaning
  specific kind, and later, goods or merchandise.

Plants that Changed History, Joan Elma Rhan, 1982
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First use of spices herbs

• Origins pre-date ancient Greeks Romans, etc.
• Today we use spices herbs primarily to make
  good food taste even better.
• In the days before refrigeration, spices were
  used to hide the taste and odor of
  less-than-fresh food, and to prolong the
  freshness of food (especially in warm climates).
  
• Today, some perfumes, soaps, and lotions are
  lightly scented with spices herbs.
• In the days before people took frequent baths,
  spices/herbs were used as deodorants. Those who
  could afford to do so had spices/herbs sown or
  tucked into their clothes to hide their body
  odors.

Plants that Changed History, Joan Elma Rhan, 1982
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Early Spices

• Orient/Old World
• cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, black pepper, ginger,
  cloves, cardamom, anise, caraway, mustard,
  saffron
• New World
• allspice, chilies paprika, vanilla

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Ancient History

• Egypt
• Greeks
• Romans
• Arabs Middle East
• After fall of Rome and during the Dark Ages (ca.
  600-1000 AD)
• Lost access to spices from the Orient

Trade between the empires of Asia and Rome
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Why were spices popular for trading?

• it was very lucrative
• transported easily
• improved food health
• many diverse uses for most spices
• very popular with the upper classes
• spicy food considered classy, sign of wealth

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Spice Trade, post-dark ages

• Crusades in 1096 Europeans are out fighting in
  the Middle East and taste exotic spices and want
  to bring them back.
• 1180s Pepperers guild, predecessor to
  herbalist and physicians.
• Middle Ages spices valuable trade item used to
  pay bills, taxes.
• 1300 Polo brothers travel to China and bring
  back tales of spices.
• By 1300s spice trade was a legitimate
  profession.

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Papal Race for Spice Islands

• During the late 15th century, the popes favorites
• Spain and Portugal
• After that, Pope issued a decree to divide the
  world between Spain and Portugal from Pole to
  Pole
• Portugal got the EAST, Spain got the WEST

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Age of Exploration

• onset of an age of exploration that lasted
  almost 500 years
• Columbus discovered America in 1492
• didnt know the size of the Earth or about the
  Pacific Ocean
• Charles V and King of Spain sent Magellan on an
  expedition to reach the Spice Islands
• westward route through the South Seas and Spice
  Islands

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Were Columbus and Magellan voyages failures ?

• Neither won for Spain the easy access to spices
  that she wanted.
• Columbus never found the spices or the lands he
  sought.
• Magellans expedition reached the Spice Islands,
  but the route across the Pacific Ocean was much
  too long and much too dangerous to be practical
  then.

Plants that Changed History, Joan Elma Rhan, 1982
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What spice trade accomplished

• New lands were discovered, and the question of
  whether the world was spherical or flat was
  finally decided.
• New plants and animals were discovered some of
  them were transported to continents where they
  had never been before, but where the climate was
  suitable.
• Peoples diets became more varied and better
  balanced. Europeans, whose homelands were
  beginning to be overpopulated, colonized the
  newly discovered lands, some of which had plenty
  of space.
• Generally, this worked out well for the
  Europeans, but rather badly for the natives of
  the colonized countries.
• For better or worse, the search for species
  brought together the civilizations that had
  developed separately in the ancient worlds. They
  would never be isolated again.

Plants that Changed History, Joan Elma Rhan, 1982
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Imperialism

• Portugal, via colonies and outposts, dominated
  spice trading for ca. 100 years (16th century).
• Thereafter, the Dutch, especially, and British
  took control of spice trading.
• Dutch took over the Indonesia Ceylon
• Dutch East India company
• England took over India, Singapore, Hong Kong
• British East India company

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Spices Herbs

• A quick survey of representatives

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Piper nigrum(black white pepper)

• Climbing vine native to India and East Indies in
  Piperaceae (pepper) family
• Berries picked green, darken shrivel upon
  drying.
• Biting flavor due to volatile oils, flavor
  dissipates after grinding.
• White pepper berries ripen on vine, outer hull
  removed.
• The most widely used spice today.

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Cinnamomum zeylanicum(cinnamon)

• Parts used- oil bark
• Evergreen tree native to India Sri Lanka in
  Laurel family
• Properties- Astringent, stimulant,
  anti-infective, anti-fungal, digestive aid
• One of the oldest and most valuable spices
• Related spice, called cassia, from C. cassia.

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Eugenia caryophyllata(clove)

• Parts Used closed flower buds
• Active Compounds  Clove oil is 60 to 90 percent
  eugenol, which is the source of its anesthetic
  and antiseptic properties.
• An evergreen tree, 15 to 30 feet tall in
  Myrtaceae (Myrtle) family
• Native to the Spice Islands and the Philippines,
  but also grown in India, Sumatra, Jamaica, the
  West Indies, Brazil, and other tropical areas.

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Myristica fragans (nutmeg mace)

• Part used- dried kernel of the seed.
• Tree is about 25 feet high, has a greyish-brown
  smooth bark, abounding in a yellow juice.
• Native to Spice Islands Myristicaceae (nutmeg)
  family
• Fruit is source of 2 spices, nutmeg mace.
• Mace is derived from the net-like aril that is
  wrapped around the pit.
• Within the pit is a single seed, the source of
  nutmeg.

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Zingiber officinale (ginger)

• Member of ginger family
• Perennial native to tropical Asia
• Plant part used Rhizome
• name from Sanskrit word stringa-vera, which means
  with a body like a horn, as in antlers.
• In English pubs and taverns in the nineteenth
  century, bar-keepers put out small containers of
  ground ginger, for people to sprinkle into their
  beer the origin of ginger ale.

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Curcuma longa (turmeric)

• Member of ginger family
• Perennial native to tropical Asia
• Part used rhizome
• Culinary uses (e.g., Middle East India)
• Dyes uses too (yellow)

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Crocus sativus(saffron)

• Member of Iris family
• From zafaran in Arabic
• From 3-parted Stigma of flower
• Dried by slow roasting
• Imparts delicate distinct taste color
• Used in French, Spanish, Middle Eastern Indian
  cooking
• Each saffron crocus flower has 3 stigmas
• Ca. 80,000 flowers (240,000) stigmas to make a
  pound of saffron
• 12 days to pick
• cost is gt 250 per ounce
• (so most costly spice)
• 1444 any merchant caught selling adulterated
  saffron in Bavaria was burned alive

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Capsicum species(hot sweet peppers)

• Members of tomato family (Solonaceae)
• Many are cultivars of Capsicum annum
• E.g., bell pepper cayenne
• Four other common species
• E.g., C. clilense includes habenero and C.
  fructescens includes tabasco pepper
• Many varieties
• Origin New World used by 9000 y. ago
• Hot due to seven related alkaloids, including
  capsaicin (mostly in seeds fruit)

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Scoville ratings(for pepper hotness)

• 16,000,000 Pure capsaicin
• 100,000-350,000 Habanero
• 30,000-50,000 Cayenne pepper
• 5,000-23,000 Serrano pepper
• 2,500-5,000 Tabasco sauce
• /Jalapeno
• 1,000-2,000 Poblano pepper
• 100-500 Pepperoncini pepper
• Ca. 0 Sweet Bell pepper

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Vanilla planifolia (vanilla)

• flavoring comes from the seed pod, or the bean
  of the vanilla plant
• member of orchid family (Orchidaceae) perennial
  vine
• behind saffron and cardamom, vanilla is 3rd most
  expensive spice
• non-culinary uses, including aromatizing
  perfumes, cigars, liqueurs
• Europeans prefer the bean, while N. Americans the
  extract
• extract made by percolating alcohol water
  through chopped cured beans

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Herbs
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Bee balmMonarda fistulosa

• Kick a cold
• Breathe easy
• Help control oily skin
• Cook with a taste of native America

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BorageBorago officinalis

• The heros herb
• Help heal the heart
• Squelch stubborn skin inflammations
• eczema
• Create stellar salads

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CatnipNepeta cataria

• Calm after a storm
• Take the sting out of stress
• Make a cat happy
• Enjoy a roman salad

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ChamomileMatricaria sp.

• Better than counting sheep
• Beat anxiety and insomnia
• Relieve indigestion
• Soothe irritated skin

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Alliums (Lily family)(onion group)

• Onion- A. cepa
• Garlic- A. sativum
• Leeks- A. porrum
• Shallots- A. ascalonicum
• Chives- A. schoenprasum
• Most rich in volatile sulfur-containing compounds
• Culinary medicinal uses
• Among oldest cultivated plants

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Onions

• Originated in Asia
• Ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion, believing
  that its spherical shape and concentric rings
  symbolized eternity. Of all the vegetables that
  had their images created from precious metals by
  Egyptian artists, only the onion was made out of
  gold.
• Ranks sixth among the world's leading vegetable
  crops.
• You can get rid of onion breath by eating
  parsley.
• Yellow onions make up more than 75 of the worlds
  production of onions.
• The official state vegetable of Georgia is the
  Vidalia onion.
• The official state vegetable of Texas is the
  Texas Sweet onion.
• According to the National Onion Association,
  onion consumption in the U.S. has increased
  approximately 50 over the past 20 years.

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Chives

• Onion benefits without tears
• Help lower blood cholesterol levels
• Help reduce blood pressure
• Help prevent certain types of cancer

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Garlic

• Culinary, medicinal, and religious use dates back
  more than 6000 years.
• Chicago got it's name from the American Indian
  word for the wild garlic that grew around Lake
  Michigan - "chicagaoua".
• California produces more than 250 million pounds
  of garlic each year. One farm in Monterey County
  (near Gilroy, "The Garlic Capital of the World")
  plants 2000 acres of garlic and produces almost
  25 million pounds annually.
• There is an all-garlic restaurant in Stockholm
  where they offer a garlic cheesecake.
• There is an all-garlic restaurant in San
  Francisco where they offer a garlic ice cream.
  The name of the place is a nickname for
  garlic...The Stinking Rose!

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raw garlic

• Prevent cure infection
• 1 clove contains substances equivalent to 100,000
  units of penicillin (1/5 avg dose)
• Help prevent cancer heart disease
• Make lean foods taste robust
• Eat sprig of fresh tarragon for temporary relief
  of garlic breath or odorless garlic in capsules

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purple cone flowerEchinacea purpurea

• Fight off colds and flu
• Heal minor cuts scratches
• Give your immune system a shot in the arm
• Compound echinsin, shown to be antiviral that
  behaves similarly to interferon
• Echinacoside has antibiotic properties

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Evening primroseOenothera biensis

• Petals open at night
• Soothes PMS and menopause symptoms
• Help prevent high blood pressure
• Smooth soften dry skin
• Active compound gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)

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FeverfewChrysanthemum parthenium

• Sooth a migraine
• Repel insects in the garden
• pyrethrin
• Keep bees at bay

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English lavender(L. officinalis or L. vera)

• Create an herbal antiseptic
• Relax and rejuvenate mind and body
• Help normalize oily skin

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Mustard (Brassicaceae)

• White yellow, Brassica alba black (brown),
  Brassica nigra.
• Volatile oil derived from sinigrin/sinalbin
  enzyme, myrosin.
• Mustard plants produce about 1,000 pounds of
  seeds per acre.
• In one year at New York's Yankee Stadium, more
  than 1,600 gallons plus 2,000,000 individual
  packets of mustard are consumed.
• Most of the mustard seeds used in Dijon, France
  are actually grown in the United States and
  Canada. Canada produces about 90 percent of the
  world's supply of mustard seeds.
• Over 700 million pounds of mustard are consumed
  worldwide each year.
• The Mustard Museum is in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.
• world's largest collection of mustards, with over
  3,500 varieties.

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Horseradish(Amoracia rusticana Brassica Family)

• prized for its medicinal and gastronomic
  qualities for centuries.
• Same volatile oil as mustard
• Did you know that . . .
• Horseradish is still planted and harvested mostly
  by hand?
• Sales of bottled horseradish began in 1860,
  making it one of the first convenience foods?
• In the American South, horseradish was rubbed on
  the forehead to relieve headaches? (Some folks
  still swear by it.)
• Horseradish is added to some pickles to add
  firmness and "nip"?
• Before being named "horseradish," the plant was
  known as "redcole" in England and as "stingnose"
  in some parts of the U.S.?
• Horseradish has only 2 calories a teaspoon, is
  low in sodium and provides dietary fiber?
• Researchers at M.I.T. claim that the enzyme
  "horseradish peroxidase" removes a number of
  pollutants from waste water?
• Germans still brew horseradish schnapps . . . .
  some also add it to their beer?

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ParsleyPetroselinum crispum

• Related to wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) (in
  the Umbel family, along with carrots, celery,
  dill, parsnips, fennel, caraway, anise,
  coriander, cumin, poison hemlock)
• Has low levels of same toxin as the wild species
• Many of these look gorgeous in the garden.

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St Johns wortHypericum perforatum

• Relieve aches pains
• arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica
• Find herbal help for depression
• Have soft silky hair
• Red color of oil from hypericin

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SpeedwellVeronica arvenis

• Calm a cough
• Leptandrine, acts as expectorant
• Mix with Chinese licorice root to balance bitter
  flavor
• Soften tough calluses

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TarragonArtemisia dracunculus

• Give high blood pressure the boot
• Discover possible link in cancer prevention
• Compound rutin

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YarrowAchillea millefollium

• Famous fever fighter
• Help heal cuts scratches
• Smooth stressed skin
• Stimulate the compost heap

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Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

• Native to Mediterranean region
• Includes thyme, sages, marjoram, oregano,
  rosemary, savory, hyssops, basil, the various
  mints, catnip, and horehound.
• Common garden mint is spearmint, not peppermint .
• Square stems aromatic simple leaves with oil
  glands.

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PeppermintMentha piperita

• Soothe your stomach
• Refresh itchy skin
• Cool spicy foods
• Active ingredient menthol

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Lemon balmMelissa officinalis

• Help relieve high blood pressure
• Digestive aid
• Volatile oil, eugenol, which calms the
  gastrointestinal tract
• Add a lemon lift to foods

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RosemaryRosemary officinalis

• De-stress the stomach
• rosmaricine
• Help heal a headache
• Have shiny hair
• Use as hair rinse

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SageSalvia officinalis

• Sore gum soother
• Subdue a sore throat
• Refresh skin after shaving
• Boost flavor of low-fat foods
• Camphor other volatile oils