Dangerous Tastes: The Story of Spices

Spices & aromatics are woven into human history, taking pride of place in the markets of the world for their contribution to food, drink, health, perfume, sex, religion, magic, & ritual. Interest in their application to diet & pharmaceutics, expressed by classical writers & developed by medieval Islam, has continued in many traditional societies. The search for Eastern spices & drugs led the Portuguese to open up the sea route to India & the East Indies, & Columbus to discover a New World with aromatics of its own. This illustrated volume offers a fresh perspective on these exotic substances & the roles they have played over the cent. It shows how each region became part of a worldwide network of trade -- with consequences ranging from disaster to triumph.