Spicy - Definition and Overview

For other uses, see Spice (disambiguation).

Spices are strongly flavored or aromatic parts of plants used in small quantities in food as a preservative, or flavouring in cooking. Spices are distinguished from other plant products used for similar purposes, such as herbs (which are green, leafy parts of plants), aromatic vegetables, and dried fruit.

Spices were some of the most valuable items of trade in the ancient and medieval world. Many spices were formerly used in medicine, though this use has decreased somewhat in later years.

Spices were rumoured to be the reason why Portugese navigator Vasco Da Gama reached India, which eventually led to the British Imperialist rule for more than four centuries.

Spices of India:

• Cardamom
• Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Turmeric

See also

• List of herbs and spices
• Spice trade

External links

Wikibooks Cookbook has more about this subject:

Spice

• Food Bacteria-Spice Survey Shows Why Some Cultures Like It Hot (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/03/980305053307.htm) Citat: "...Garlic, onion, allspice and oregano, for example, were found to be the best all-around bacteria killers (they kill everything)...Top 30 Spices with Antimicrobial Properties..."
• May 22, 2001, Add a Little Spice to Your Life. (http://a-s.clayton.edu/hampikian/Research/Spice/WebMDAddaLittleSpicetoYourLife.html) And Take Away a Few Bacteria That Cause Disease
• August 18, 1998, Common Kitchen Spices Kill E. Coli O157:H7 (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/pr_fsaf/News%20Releases/relspicfung.htm) Citat: "...The study is the first in the United States that looks at the effect of common spices on E. coli O157:H7. Previous studies have concluded spices kill other foodborne pathogens. "In the first part of our study, we tested 23 spices against E. coli O157:H7 in the laboratory," Fung said. "We found that several spices are good at killing this strain of E. coli."..."