by Jack Turner From the publisher: 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 […]
Tag: condiment
Herbs: A Global History
by Gary Allen From the publisher: You can’t make pesto alla Genovese without basil or a Mojito without mint. You can use peppermint to settle an upset stomach, ease arthritis […]
The discovery of umami, the fifth taste
More than one hundred years ago, Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda wondered how a simple bowl of broth containing water, dried fish flakes, and a little bit of dried seaweed could […]
Demand for spices in Middle Ages drove globalization
“The quest for spice was one of the earliest drivers of globalization. Long before the voyages of European explorers, spices were globally traded products. Desire for spices helped fuel European […]
Ketchup revolutionized way food is grown, processed and regulated in the U.S.
U.S. companies began mass-producing tomato ketchup in the late 19th century. Food scientists at H.J. Heinz Company in Pittsburgh developed a balance of sweet, sour, and salty flavor that was […]
Did the introduction of iodized salt raise IQs by 15 points in the U.S. Goiter Belt?
Did IQ scores go up for some men after the introduction of iodized salt in 1924? Researchers analyzed data from World War I and World War II to try to […]
Short history of ketchup
Ketchup’s origins are found in Asia, and its adaptation into the thing that resembles our thick, modern-day ketchup began in early modern Britain….It’s likely that Britons encountered this tasty sauce […]
Sweetness and Power: The Place of Sugar in Modern History
by Sidney W. Mintz From the publisher: In this eye-opening study, Sidney Mintz shows how Europeans and Americans transformed sugar from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of […]
Sugar: The World Corrupted From Slavery to Obesity
by James Walvin From the publisher: How did a simple commodity, once the prized monopoly of kings and princes, become an essential ingredient in the lives of millions, before mutating yet […]
Seven Culinary Wonders of the World: A History of Honey, Salt, Chile, Pork, Rice, Cacao, and Tomato
by Jenny Linford From the publisher: The Seven Culinary Wonders of the World is a global culinary history told through the stories of seven essential ingredients found in cuisines all […]