Spice

Barks, seeds, roots, or fruits used in small quantities to flavor food. Often dried and traded globally, spices like cinnamon and turmeric have driven historic exploration and commerce. Tag distinguishes flavoring agents from bulk staples.

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  Cinnamomum verum: Discovering "True" Cinnamon

  Once just a kitchen spice—and briefly an internet stunt—cinnamon has a much deeper story rooted in centuries of global trade and discovery. This narrative traces the quest to identify and control “true” cinnamon, revealing its lasting impact on medicine, commerce, and history.
  spice, medicinal, tropical
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  Dittany: Women’s Herbs and Reproductive Control

  Used for over 2,000 years, dittany has been closely tied to women’s health, especially around menstruation and childbirth. This story explores how historical herbals and recipes reflect women’s knowledge and agency in using this medicinal plant across time.
  herb, spice, medicinal, temperate
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  Turmeric: Herb of the Sun

  Turmeric, prized for its vivid yellow-orange rhizome, has long been used as a spice, medicine, and dye across South and Southeast Asia. This story traces how its distinctive color and flavor not only shaped South Asian cuisine but also played a role in British imperial identity and cultural performance.
  root, spice, medicinal, tropical