In olden days, handful of cardamom was worth as much as a poor man's yearly wages and many slaves were bought and sold for a few cups of peppercorns. According to historians, around 1000 BC Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem to offer him "120 measures of gold, many spices, and precious stones."
Status Symbol in Rome
The great Roman Empire was not out side the spell of "spices" either. Presumably, Cleopatra herself used a "very stimulating" food to seduce Caesar. Huge quantities of saffron were strewn on the streets of Rome to celebrate Nero's entrance into the city. Pepper, the spice of choice, was as omnipresent as garum iberico on the Roman tables. Without a doubt, spices had become status symbols.
Spice Mania in the Middle Ages
From the 10th century on, the crusades prompted a rediscovery of spices; certain spices were worth so much that one of them even became currency: pepper. Some spices were covered in honey in order to disguise them as candy. Their culinary and medicinal uses overlapped, and grocers and apothecarists often worked in the same companies. Besides traditional black pepper, some of the other prized spices of the era were ginger cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Voyage of Discovery
Arab traders were the first to introduce spices into Europe. Realizing that they controlled a commodity in great demand,

the traders kept their sources of supply secret and made up fantastic tales of the dangers involved in obtaining spices.
Arab traders were the first to introduce spices into Europe. Realizing that they controlled a commodity in great demand, the traders kept their sources of supply secret and made up fantastic tales of the dangers involved in obtaining spices. Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492 to head West and find gold and spices, hoping to hit the Indian coast where these precious commodities could be found. For the Portuguese and Spanish, controlling and supplying the spice market and overturning the Arab and Venetian monopoly in the Mediterranean were key objectives.
In 1497, Vasco da Gama sailed around the Cape of Good Hope and headed east. A year later, he anchored off the Malabar Coast in South India. The Arab merchants were shocked to see a Portuguese man on Indian shores. "We are looking for Christians and spices," stated the Portuguese navigator, and with that, the Arabs saw their monopoly crumble.

In the centuries to follow, often the country with the strongest navy was able to gain dominion over the areas where spices originated. The Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and British empires all enjoyed leading roles in running the spice routes for a time. In fact, the last of these great spice monopolies, the Dutch, remained in existence until the outbreak of World War II.
Spices and Yale University
In the late 17th century, America benefited indirectly from the spice trade. Boston-born Elihu Yale grew up in England, where he worked as a clerk for the British East India Company, which held a monopoly on all trade with India. Yale eventually became the Governor of Fort St George (later Madras and, now, Chennai) in India, and his spice fortune helped endow Yale University.
Spice Junction
Spices have now become an integral part of our daily life. At Spice Junction, our chefs have put together a selection from the cuisine of Kerala and Goa, where spices make their presence felt across a variety of dishes, each true to its native origins. Tradition and experience together determine the combination of spices used for a particular regional style. In the right combination, spices transform each dish into a savoury maze of unforgettable flavour, colour and aroma.