Dangerous tastes : the story of spices

Spices and aromatics are at the centre of human history.

Since antiquity they have had pride of place in the markets of the world for their contribution to food, drink, health, perfume, sex, magic and ritual.

Aromatics are among the earliest commodities of prehistoric trade, with evidence of spices and perfumed oil from a number of archaeological sites.

This text offers explores the way trade and the search for exotic spices are woven into human history.

The author shows how each region became part of what is now a world-wide network of trade - with local consequences ranging from disaster to triumph.