In this brilliant, engrossing work, Jack Turner explores an era—from ancient times through the Renaissance—when what we now consider common condiments were valued in gold and blood. Spices made sour medieval wines palatable, camouflaged the smell of corpses, and served as wedding night aphrodisiacs. Indispensible for cooking, medicine, worship, and the arts of love, they were thought to have magical properties and were so valuable that they were often kept under lock and key. For some, spices represented Paradise, for others, the road to perdition, but they were potent symbols of wealth and power, and the wish to possess them drove explorers to circumnavigate the globe—and even to savagery. Following spices across continents and through literature and mythology, Spice is a beguiling narrative about the surprisingly vast influence spices have had on human desire. Includes eight pages of color photographs. One of the Best Books of the Year: Discover Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco Chronicle

'This is a must-have book, packed with tips and hints from a talented chef.' - Paul Hollywood 'This book is right up my street! It's about time that a chef got involved seriously on what spices really do to us and the food we eat, so well done Tonia - you have spiced my life back up with this book.' Chef Aldo Zilli Celebrity chef and TV personality, Tonia Buxton reveals the secret to a happier, healthier, spicier you through her spice-based recipes and home remedies. Tonia shows you how to turn seemingly simple spices into delicious meals, beauty products, and powerful potions that will help you live longer and feel better, naturally. At 50 years old, Tonia is living proof that using spices can make you look and feel incredible. Spices have been used for thousands of years to heal people and keep illness at bay, and Tonia is reminding us, through her delicious, easy-to-follow recipes and holistic home remedies, that putting a little spice in your life can still do wonders for your wellbeing today.

This 2000 book explores the literary and cultural significance of spice, and the spice trade, in Romantic literature.

A revealing look at the history and production of spices, with modern, no-nonsense advice on using them at home. Every home cook has thoughts on the right and wrong ways to use spices. These beliefs are passed down in family recipes and pronounced by television chefs, but where do such ideas come from? Many are little better than superstition, and most serve only to reinforce a cook’s sense of superiority or cover for their insecurities. It doesn’t have to be this way. These notes On Spice come from three generations of a family in the spice trade, and dozens upon dozens of their collected spice guides and stories. Inside, you’ll learn where spices come from: historically, geographically, botanically, and in the modern market. You’ll see snapshots of life in a spice shop, how the flavors and stories can infuse not just meals but life and relationships. And you’ll get straightforward advice delivered with wry wit. Discover why: Salt grinders are useless Saffron is worth its weight in gold (as long as it’s pure) That jar of cinnamon almost certainly isn’t Vanilla is far more risqué than you think Learn to stop worrying and love your spice rack.

Stevie Parle and Emma Grazette are on a mission to spice up Britain's kitchens and revolutionise the way we cook with the treasures hidden away in our cupboards. This book, accompanying the award-winning Channel 4 series, will show just how to bring the magic of spice into your home. Emma and Stevie have been on a journey to all corners of the world to discover the secrets of six essential everyday spices, learning from the world's experts - the people who grow and cook with them every day. In this book they share the best recipes, therapies and mementoes from their journey. Their recipes are inspired not just by the countries visited on this trip, but from all over the world. Some are hot, some sweet, some subtle, and they're all special, take less than twenty minutes to prepare and are really easy to cook. And as well as exploring the culinary uses of each spice, Emma also reveals their therapeutic value through the secrets she discovered from the remarkable people she met on her journey. With over 100 thoroughly tested recipes, therapies and photography from an incredible journey, let Spice Trip transform your cooking and your life from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

Spices are the fastest, easiest way to transform a dish from good to spectacular. In his new book, Lior Lev Sercarz, the country's most sought-after spice expert, shows you how to master flavor in 250 inspiring recipes, each counting on spices to elevate this collection of everyday and new favorites. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW Spices are the magic ingredient in Lior Lev Sercarz's newest book, Mastering Spice, and all it takes is a pinch to bring your meatballs, roast chicken, or brownies to the next level. Owner of New York City spice shop La Boîte, and a professionally trained chef who has cooked at some of the world's most renown restaurants, Lior's simple and straightforward approach showcases how spices and spice blends can take a recipe for chicken soup, meatballs, or brownies into a whole new and exciting direction. Every section begins with a master recipe and technique--then Lior teaches readers how to change the spices or some of the ingredients to get a profoundly different dish than what you began with. By mastering the techniques and playing with the variations, you'll learn how to use spices to become a more creative and intuitive cook, and how spices can endlessly heighten your eating experience.