Spice Plants & Trees

Spices and herbs come from different plant and tree parts.

Throughout history, humankind used spice plants and trees in a wide variety of ways. Some spices, like cinnamon, appeared as offerings for various gods and goddesses. Others, like garlic and rosemary became part of a shaman's, monk's or healer's curative kit. During the Middle Ages, spice blends burned in castles to alleviate unpleasant aromas. Additionally, no matter the setting or era, herbs and spices enhance the flavors of bland dishes, or mask tastes in gamy or unsavory recipes.

Seasoning Vocabulary

People often use the words "herb" and "spice" interchangeably when they actually describe two different parts of spice plants and trees. An herb comes from leaves in dry or fresh form. Spices come from the remaining aromatic parts -- namely roots, berries, fruits, flowers and bark. The American Spice Trade Association also defines spice as plant products used for seasoning, which could also potentially include dried vegetables. The Food and Drug Administration, however, keeps vegetables in a distinct category for packaging and labeling purposes. Using these guidelines, leaf from the bay tree is an herb while allspice tree berries (Pimenta dioica) and Cinnamon (C. verum) are spices.

The Spice Trade

The ancient Egyptians listed spice plants and trees they used for medicines on scrolls as early as 1550 B.C.E., many of which remain familiar like saffron, mustard and cassia. Around 950 B.C.E. Arab merchants began travelling to China, India and Southeast Asia with incense and spices, slowly spreading the lore of herbs along with their trade goods. By 80 B.C.E. Alexandria was a key center for the spice trade, and some spices brought a high price based on their rarity or purported healthful qualities. One example is pepper, which during the Roman era was currency and sometimes even used as ransom. The early merchants, and later explorers like Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus spread a wealth of spice plants and trees to all corners of the world. By the 1800s the United States began trading spices. According to the International Trade Center, the United States ranks 14th in the world for annual export volumes in herbs and spices as of 2010. China takes first place.

Healing Herbs

Many ancient civilizations looked to spice plants and trees as potential allies in healing. The Chinese, Egyptians, Arabs, Greeks and Native Americans alike all had healers who tested nature's apothecary and shared their knowledge through oral tradition. One example is garlic. In Asia, healers used garlic for fever, colic, liver problems and colds, just to name a few. Greek and Roman soldiers and Olympians ate garlic to maintain health and stamina. Native Americans applied garlic to wounds and snakebites. The Mayo Clinic agrees with this concept, saying that many spices and herbs support health, including garlic thanks to it's cancer-fighting antioxidants.

Symbolism in Herbs and Spices

As with so many items used in daily life, spice plants and trees took on a variety of symbolic values. The meaning of each depended heavily on the era and culture. To illustrate, in the Far East, cinnamon represented good luck. Greeks used bay laurel and parsley as victorious tokens. In Europe during the Middle Ages rosemary represented memory, and continues with that symbolic value in the Victorian Language of Flowers. Borage symbolized courage because healers recommended it for the faint of heart. Artists and writers alike used the characteristics of herbs and spices as a means of conveying even more with words, carvings or brush strokes. The representations that remain offer a backdrop for archaeological, sociological and cultural studies into the world of spice trees and plants as experienced by our ancestors.

References

• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences -- Herb & Spice History
• University of Virginia: Brief History of Herbalism
• Palomar University: Allspice, Bay Rum, Bay Leaves, Capers, Cloves, Cinnamon, Camphor, Witch Hazel & Nutmeg
• Gardening Guru: Symbolism of Herbs
• University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension -- Add a Little Spice and Herbs to Your Life
• "Spice -- The History of Temptation"; Jack Turner; 2005

Resources

• "The Herbal Arts"; Patricia Telesco; 1998
• Encyclopedia of Spices
• Botany: Herb and Spice Plants