• That Ralph Lauren's cologne Safari for men uses cloves and cinnamon and that Egoiste
0 by Chanel uses vanilla and coriander?

• That saffron is the world's most expensive spice because it takes 75,000 flowers or
0 225,000 stigmas to make one kilogram of saffron.

• That there are over 200 varieties of peppers and over 15 varieties of paprika?

• The first trip around the world took three years and was motivated by the
0 search for cloves and nutmeg?

• That during the X11 century that 500g of mace was equal to 3 sheep and half a cow in value?

• That Columbus started the age of exploration in 1492 in a search for spices.

• That the king of spices, black pepper was used as ransom.

• Tunisians make a natural deoderant called Tidnissa using cloves?

• That cinnamon is one of the oldest spices? It was mentioned in a botanical document dating 2700 BC.

• That sesame seed has been consumed for over 5000 years, the Hindu Brahmins
0 believe its consumption brings immortality.

• Green peppercorns are unripe peppercorns which are picked unripened then preserved in brine. Black pepper is
0picked before the fruit is ripe and then left to shrivel. White pepper is left to ripen on the vine and then the peppercorns
0are soaked and the outer shell is removed. Red peppercorns are picked when fully ripe and then they are dried or
0preserved. Pink Peppercorns are from a different plant, they are gently sweet berries. In 1976 world trade in black
0pepper was 100 million kilos.



• Cardamom was said to have grown in the gardens of the king of Babylon, 720BC.

• Cardamom is a sensual spice, considered to have aphrodisiac properties it cools the body
0 when it is hot and warms it when it is cold. Apicus (famous roman epicure) prescribed it to
0 counteract overindulgence.

• The Roman's made sweetened balls of coriander which they would throw at the crowd
0 during festivals. Often the balls would break apart and a rainfall of light coriander seeds
0 would ensue . And thus the origin of confetti

• Slaves from Africa brought sesame with them when traveling to the Americas, believing it would
0 bring them luck. The Brahmins believe that sesame brings immortality.

• Fenugreek was used as a cure for baldness in ancient times and is still used in many hair tonics.

• The doctors from the school of medicine in Salermo, Italy announced that everyone should
0 eat ginger regularly in order to love and to be loved like when they were young.

• Roman gladiators ate dill before engaging in battle, believing it would bring them strength.

• A young 17th century Danish man was condemned for having coaxed a young woman to
0 swallow an aphrodisiac nutmeg.