2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
In the Middle Ages spices they play an important role in economic and political life, and the value of some of them is similar to gold. Spices were considered rare and valuable not only because of their aroma, but also because of their use in medicine and in food preservation.
Between 200 BC. and 1200 AD, the Romans began trading in spices, sailing between Egypt and India - a long and difficult journey to the Indian Ocean to pick up black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger. Due to its very high price at that time, spices were offered only to the rich. In 410, when the Goths conquered Rome, their ruler demanded gold, jewels, silk and 13,700 kg of black pepper as ransom. In the Middle Ages, the most valuable spices came from China, India and the Indonesian islands.
The spices, those magic seeds and powders that spice up our food, have been here for thousands of years. You can find them in most kitchens, hidden away in a drawer or shelf, but returned to the light when cooking begins.
Their history dates back more than 5,000 years, when the first traces of spice trade. Many of these spices come to Europe or the United States from distant places such as Africa, India, Southeast Asia, Central or South America.
Although many people will not go beyond what the local market will offer in terms of spices, there is a wide variety of choices. Nowadays, most of those spices that come from exotic places can be bought almost anywhere, so there's no reason not to try something new and different.
The spices forms of payment have also been used by other civilizations. Native Americans used cocoa beans to make trades instead of gold. You would think that now that spices are technically more readily available, they will not be as valuable. However, as some spices are only grown in certain regions and under certain conditions, they continue to be Very expensive.
Saffron
The most valuable spice in the world today is saffron. Dried stigmas of the crocus saffron plant can be purchased as saffron threads. One kilogram of saffron costs, depending on the quality, from 500 to 5000 dollars.
The saffron crocus is a member of the Iridaceae family. This plant was originally native to Asia Minor and the Mediterranean and is now cultivated mainly in southern France, Iran, Spain, Italy, Morocco and Greece. The reason for the very high prices is the high cost of harvesting. Saffron crocus blooms once a year for two weeks. The pistils, of which each flower has three, must be carefully collected by hand in the morning immediately after opening the flower, otherwise the valuable aroma evaporates. For one kilogram of saffron a person needs at least 150,000 flowers or an area of about 1,000 square meters.
In addition to being used as a spice, it is also used to color foods.
Most say it has a scent that justifies its price. It is described as both subtle and complex. It has a colorful taste, but unobtrusive, earthy, but not spicy, delicate and distinct. A pinch of saffron is needed to turn the dish into a culinary masterpiece.
Vanilla
In second place is vanilla. A pod costs between three and five euros, although there are significant differences in quality. The price reflects the labor-intensive production process. Only fermented vanilla pods are usually used in trade. They can be up to 30 centimeters long. Shortly before the pods ripen, they are collected by hand, treated with steam and stored for four weeks in an airtight container, where they ferment slowly. In this way, the preparation becomes very time consuming.
Vanilla is native to Mexico, but is now cultivated mainly on the islands of the Indian Ocean and Madagascar in huge plantations. Of the more than 100 species in the world, only 15 are used to flavor desserts.
Cardamom
Relatively cheap compared to saffron and vanilla, cardamom usually costs around 60 euros per kilogram. Nevertheless, this price is far above the average price for spices. Therefore, cardamom is the undisputed number three most expensive spice.
Cardamom is a plant that is related to the ginger family. It has a fiery-spicy taste. Its main areas of cultivation are in India and Madagascar. There are two types of cardamom, black and green. Black cardamom has a smoky, earthy and tart taste and is mainly used to flavor spicy dishes. Green cardamom is often used in desserts.
Lighter-colored cardamom is more common, but green cardamom is the most expensive and is used to flavor cakes and coffee, but also bakery products. Green cardamom is also used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pepper
Undisputed in the list of the most expensive spices historically it is pepper. This is the most commonly used spice in the world today, but it has been the most expensive for centuries. Pepper was once so valuable that there were armed conflicts around the areas in which it was grown. Many researchers and sailors set out to find a sea route to India so that pepper could be brought to Europe cheaper. One of the ironies of the story is that Christopher Columbus set out to find a sea route to India for the pepper and spice trade, but discovered a new continent with countless new spices instead. This discovery reduces the importance of pepper, as the discovery of new spices takes the focus away from it. When hot red pepper is discovered, it suddenly becomes a new favorite among flavors.
Originally, pepper came from India, but today it is also grown in many countries in Southeast Asia and Brazil. Pepper is a climbing plant whose hot peppers can be picked twice a year. A kilo of black pepper can cost up to $ 3 on the market.
Cinnamon
Here we must first distinguish what type of cinnamon we are talking about. There are two types of cinnamon in Europe that are recognized as spices: Chinese cinnamon and real cinnamon, or Ceylon cinnamon. Today we are talking about the latter. Due to the fact that Ceylon cinnamon is rarer than Chinese cinnamon, it is more expensive.
The spice is dry bark of cinnamon wood. It is one of the oldest spices in the world and is mainly used to flavor desserts. The Cinnamomum verum originally came from Sri Lanka, although it is now cultivated in many tropical countries. Between the 16th and 18th centuries cinnamon was especially valuable and was one of the most expensive spices in the world. Pound cinnamon costs about $ 6.
Mahleb
Known by various names such as mahalab, mahleb, mahaleb, mahlep or mahalep, this spice is produced from the seeds of cherries from St. Lucie, which makes it very rare and thus justifies the high price, which can reach $ 68 per kilogram. This variety of cherry tree grows in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. Initially used as an ingredient in perfumes, it paves the way for the kitchen. It has an aroma similar to a combination of cherries and almonds.
Paradise grains
Associated with ginger, turmeric and cardamom, these spices are native to Ghana, Liberia and Togo. Known as alligator pepper or Roman pepper, the beans are used mainly in African cuisines, but are also gaining popularity in other regions of the world.
It was very popular in the 14th and 15th centuries, so much so that the Gulf of Guinea was known as Cole Melegueta because of the plant's Latin name - Aframomum melegueta. The pound bead is priced at around $ 31, which puts it on top of the most expensive spices in the world.
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