There are so many types os peppers and spices, but the most commonly known was pepper and woah were there a whole bunch: black pepper, white pepper, green pepper, etc. Pepper was used for many things including as a food preservative (no fridge duh!) and a flavor enhancer like it is still used today :] It was really cool to find out what really makes people like pepper so much, and that is because of the response of our pain nerves to the shape of the molecule.It fits onto a protein and makes it change shape causing it to send a signal to our pain nerves. Kind of like a drug, and it becomes and endorphin and addicting. Ah! another fun fact or sort of not-yet-proven-but cool fact ...The molecules of isoeugenol in nutmeg could have acted as a detergent against fleas that carried the bubonic plague and so some people wore nutmeg around their necks!!-----Vanessa R.
Peppers, nutmeg, and cloves have been known to humans for many years, but we have never taken in consideration how valuable and important they were for medieval civilizations. Whether they were used as a culinary substance, medicine, preservative, or for protection such spices will always be utilize in many parts of the world. It was quite interesting how pepper was a luxury and nowadays everyone is able to buy this produce. The significance and complexity of traveling to foreign countries, either in the west or east hemisphere, to gain complete dominance of the spice trade was an incredible way to achieve their purpose in Europe. The origin of the spices played a huge role on history and the individuality and similarities of their structures. For example, both black and white pepper’s active element is Piperine; on the other hand chili pepper’s active ingredient is Capsaicin. Although both structures have a nitrogen connected to carbon and it is double bonded to an oxygen atom both have very distinctive characteristics such as their pungent flavor and concentrated heat. Another fascinating detail is that cloves and nutmeg, though they come from different plant families and regions, have an individual aromatic smell but at the same time have similar molecules.
In the starting of the 15th century, peppers, nutmegs, and cloves were worth an extraordinary amount; an amount that could not be thought by a person in the 21st century, for (a) spice(s). Although spices are tremendously common now days, who are we to thank? The people of India? The people who exposed the spices to the world? Or simply god? As spices were exposed to other regions of the world, the demand for it rose, and the supply was diminutive. But, as people found out, the need for spices was high, along with, spices were worth a nice amount of money, the production of spices increased extremely fast. In need for spices, new places were explored, new paths from continent to continent were introduced, and at some points blood was shed. Peppers could be thought as like rocks; they both come in many colors, along with many sizes, the only problem with rocks is that they are not edible and they taste like….god knows what. Its amazing how our bodies, along with our pain nerves react, when we compose a white or black pepper within us; by eating it. The shape(s) of the piperine is/are the victims of the hot-painful sensation we suffer when we expose a black or white pepper in out mouths. Geography plays a big role when talking about spices. Where a spice is originated, can tell what type of spice it is. For example, if you look at piperine (originated: Haiti) which is found in black and white peppers, zingeroe (originated: India, if not in Asia) which is found in the underground stem of the ginger plant, and capsaicin (originated: Mexico) which is found in chili peppers; all have a similar elemental structure, but all originated in completely different areas on the world. - structures and originations - Piperine - C12N19O3N - originated - Haiti Capsicum - C18H27O3N - originated - Mexico Zingeroe - C11H14O - originated - India, if not, broadly in Asia. Although, Europeans were desperate for spices at some points, they did not expose a lot of spices in their foods, compared to how Asians and Africans exposed spices in their foods. Why did/do Asians and Africans use a lot of spices in their foods? Is it because most of the spices were produced in the areas of Asia and Africa, or could their be another reason? Along with peppers, Nutmeg and cloves were another very important spice, but unfortunately they were much more rare then peppers. Cloves are producers of oil, eugenol, and nutmeg are producers of oil isoeugenol. Its fascinating how two things which are originated in completely different areas, and look very different, could be composed with a oil with is very similar. With eugenol’s and isoeugenol’s elemental structure being very similar, zingerone, from ginger, elemental structure is also very similar to the one’s of eugenol and isoeugenol. Now the question is why? How could three distinct things, originated in distinct places, be so more alike? Although clovers and nutmegs are similar at some points, they have their distinct qualities. In places around the world nutmegs are used from, medical purposes, to food. Since the production and use for peppers, nutmegs, and cloves has become very common, the value of these essential items has fallen, but the search of new items with such same qualities as these spices or better, are being searched for or are in finding. Although these spices are extremely common now, we still favor them in out foods, and medicines. As humans, selfishness and stupidly is within us, if for one second, we stop and think about important things of life such as spices, we would be fascinated. This chapter was extremely interesting, who knew why my mouth experiences pain when I eat a red pepper….Its uncanny how people in the late 1340’s wore nutmeg bags around their necks for protection against the black death, which was upon Europe at that time. But, HAY…aren’t we all uncanny in our own little ways?
It's kinda ironic how I play with peppers and dont care how much i've used it because of its high value before. These spices were labeled as 'luxury' although it's now a common necessity in our current society. 3/4 are sold as black pepper, and i can't help but laugh because I didn't know that white pepper exists. These spices are mainly used as a preservative and flavor enhancer. With all the food we have today, we wouldn't really care if there's pepper or not. Instead, we would worry about its taste. Proper spice amount helps in food distinguishing and preserving those foods. All in all, these spices revolve around food, which is a complete need of an organism, specifically, human. It's kinda odd that the 'hot sensation' is the response of our pain nerves. Due to endorphins secreted (natural response to pain) we humans receives pleasure from these hot spices. So now, I found the answer why i still eat those kinds of things haha.. Such thing as aroma in cloves and nutmegs only differ in their double bond positions. cloves = Eugenol nutmegs = Isoeugenol Simple things like that alter each of molecules in chemistry resulting in different kinds of structures and functions.
It's kinda ironic how I play with peppers and dont care how much i've used it because of its high value before. These spices were labeled as 'luxury' although it's now a common necessity in our current society. 3/4 are sold as black pepper, and i can't help but laugh because I didn't know that white pepper exists. These spices are mainly used as a preservative and flavor enhancer. With all the food we have today, we wouldn't really care if there's pepper or not. Instead, we would worry about its taste. Proper spice amount helps in food distinguishing and preserving those foods. All in all, these spices revolve around food, which is a complete need of an organism, specifically, human. It's kinda odd that the 'hot sensation' is the response of our pain nerves. Due to endorphins secreted (natural response to pain) we humans receives pleasure from these hot spices. So now, I found the answer why i still eat those kinds of things haha.. Such thing as aroma in cloves and nutmegs only differ in their double bond positions. cloves = Eugenol nutmegs = Isoeugenol Simple things like that alter each of molecules in chemistry resulting in different kinds of structures and functions.
A cool fact that I learned from reading the fist chapter was that pepper has the ability to disguise rancidity. And that in the 16th century pepper was so valuable that it was even considered to be a novelty item.
It was also very interesting to find out that after people eat something very spicy they can experience a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling due to endorphins opiate-like compounds that are produced in the brain as the body’s natural response to pain. So that’s the reason why a lot of people like spicy food because in a way it’s just a like an addiction, the hotter the chili, the more the pain and the greater amounts of endorphins produced meaning the greater the satisfaction.
Another fact that i thought was interesting was that clove oil is a powerful antiseptic and was used as a remedy for toothache, and now it is sometimes used as a tropical anesthetic in dentistry.
A cool fact that I learned from reading the fist chapter was that pepper has the ability to disguise rancidity. And that in the 16th century pepper was so valuable that it was even considered to be a novelty item.
It was also very interesting to find out that after people eat something very spicy they can experience a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling due to endorphins opiate-like compounds that are produced in the brain as the body’s natural response to pain. So that’s the reason why a lot of people like spicy food because in a way it’s just a like an addiction, the hotter the chili, the more the pain and the greater amounts of endorphins produced meaning the greater the satisfaction.
Another fact that i thought was interesting was that clove oil is a powerful antiseptic and was used as a remedy for toothache, and now it is sometimes used as a tropical anesthetic in dentistry.
Finding out the history behind a simple pepper nowadays sold at the grocery store was quite, impressive!- What stood out to me the most was the fact that Venice's salt produced from its lagoons began the trading process which later helped obtain its independence(something, crazy because most countries obtaint their independence by fighting or help from other countried). With such freedom and self control Venice obtained pepper and became the "spice kings", and i think this was probably the best thign that could have happened to Venice after obtaining such power with their OWN natural resource!. Its crazy, to understand that pepper once signified, power. As my classmates have mentioned, i also learned the process that causes the body to react to a spicy pepper whos piperine substance becomes the most important compound as it becomes a protein, its then sent to the body changing the protein's shape and sending such signal to the brain and the body then reacts to the spice, -in most cases people begin sweating and get red faces becasue of such strong spice. I also learned that plants protect themselve with molecules like eugenol and piperine which are natural molecules, yet consuming large amounts can be harmful to humans becasue our liver's "detoxification process" is very immediate. Oh! - the fact that caught me the most attention was that cloves were once used as breath sweetners in a way like tic tacs! Nutmeg was used as a stomach pain killer and also required rich, moist draiend soild away from the sun and strogn winds! - which was a problem when obtaining its power. Many countried failed to have such weather conditions and trading became the solution to most ... but smart people like the Dutch used LIME before sending their products to prevent if from sprouting! SMART PEOPLE! -There is something i wonder about though-> The Black Death...such plague was the most feared..but why couldnt people prevent it from spreading all over Europe? Lack of medicine...but it seems as if people cared more about obtaining power with nutmeg and pepper and had solutions like the Dutch to prevent sprouting and all...but why couldnt they figue a way to stop such disease?...was it all about the power at the moment or were the lives of the people important..but not as much?
In this chapter i learn about the history of peppers. The importance and the huge role that the pepper played.What i found intereting in this chapter was that pepper was so valuable that it would buy the freedom of a feudal laborer.Back then pepper was like a luxury that not all people could afford.I find this to be funny because now that people could afford it not all people buy it like before. I never thought that by something so small like pepper could build up a city like it did with venice. What i found funny from what i read was that even though the pepper is very spicy alot of people enjoy the feeling and the sensation that they feel in their mouth when eating a pepper, basically the the hotter it is the better."The hotter the chilli, the more the pain, so the greater the trace amounts of endorphis produced and ultimately the greater the pleasure". This is the line that i really like is just what i've said before.But pepper wasn't the only spice of great value there were other spices suh as Nutmeg and cloves they were also valuable but not much as peppers. The oil of clove was a powerful remedy for toothache. And like the clove the nutmeg was also use as a medication in china to treat stomach pains and in southeast Asia for dysentery or colic. Nutmeg was also use in a small bag around the neck to protect against the Black Death. Its sad how we eat things but we dont even know the history behind it.This chapter has alot of facts that not much people know about just like i did.
This chapter deals with the impact spices made on society back then. They had many uses ranging from hiding the expired taste of food, preservation, medicine, and even as a flea repellent. I thought pepper was just black and grayish but I found out that only ¾ of pepper is black and there is a variety. There is white pepper that is obtained from the dried part of the fruit on the inside. The majority of black pepper comes from the unripe berries of the plant. They even have green pepper but I think the color of the pepper depends on what part of the plant they get it from or how they get it. They have many different methods of harvesting which results in different types of it…..Who would have known pepper had many uses other than for consuming? (I didn’t) The Greeks used pepper early on as “an antidote to poison”. The most common uses for spices were to use them as preservatives and to enhance flavor in their extremely bland food. Pepper became the new must have on the market due to its abilities to transform the quality and taste of food. Since pepper was so precious, nations started planning ways to cash in. India, in particular, had an enormous peppercorn crop which made it the most desirable place to get your hands on pepper. It was pepperland paradise. I found it interesting how maybe not the sole reason, but a good one, that Christopher Columbus wanted to get to India but instead came across the Americas. So my theory is that he wasn’t trying to find the “new world” he wanted to get dirty rich on pepper. Although he didn’t find what he was looking for, greed drove him to go on a second voyage which turned up chili peppers. Within half a century, chili peppers were distributed through out the world. I learned that chili peppers have different species inside of their “capsicum” genus. A genus (I think) is like the family or group made up of little subdivisions…I learned that different species include capsicum annuum: bell and banana peppers. Sweet capsicum frutescens: Tabasco peppers… Another aspect of species and peppers I found interesting is that when we digest “hot”/ “spicy” molecules like capsaicin [which is found in peppers] zingerone [found in ginger stems] and piperine [in pepper]; they attach to proteins on our nerves that cause pain or a tingling sensation that makes us think “whoa, this is spicy!”…it’s like a spicy alert to our brains…I also found out the intensity of a chili increases when it is dried. Spices even release endorphins which are known as the “happy chemical” that you also get when you exercise……Merchants invested on trips to India much like Americans bet on the stock market. It was risky because so many nations fought for control of the peppercorn capitol…..Spices like nutmeg & cloves were extremely expensive due to their rarity. People even died trying to get their hands on it. Nutmegs & cloves smell very different but their opposite smells can be attributed to the similarity in their molecules. Cloves have EUGENOL and nutmeg had ISOEUGENOL. The only difference is they are in different plant families and where their double bond is positioned. Nutmeg is a natural pesticide. These plants have these chemicals to fend for themselves from different kind of threats like bugs or animals…..I also learned that two spices are produced from the nutmeg tree: mace & nutmeg. Medical properties included helping tummy aches & protecting against the plague… the Europeans used it during the black plague to try to fend of the fleas and ticks that could contaminate them with the disease…There are numerous uses for these spices, most which I had no idea about…
There are so many types os peppers and spices, but the most commonly known was pepper and woah were there a whole bunch: black pepper, white pepper, green pepper, etc. Pepper was used for many things including as a food preservative (no fridge duh!) and a flavor enhancer like it is still used today :] It was really cool to find out what really makes people like pepper so much, and that is because of the response of our pain nerves to the shape of the molecule.It fits onto a protein and makes it change shape causing it to send a signal to our pain nerves. Kind of like a drug, and it becomes and endorphin and addicting. Ah! another fun fact or sort of not-yet-proven-but cool fact ...The molecules of isoeugenol in nutmeg could have acted as a detergent against fleas that carried the bubonic plague and so some people wore nutmeg around their necks!!-----Vanessa R.
ReplyDeletePeppers, nutmeg, and cloves have been known to humans for many years, but we have never taken in consideration how valuable and important they were for medieval civilizations. Whether they were used as a culinary substance, medicine, preservative, or for protection such spices will always be utilize in many parts of the world. It was quite interesting how pepper was a luxury and nowadays everyone is able to buy this produce. The significance and complexity of traveling to foreign countries, either in the west or east hemisphere, to gain complete dominance of the spice trade was an incredible way to achieve their purpose in Europe. The origin of the spices played a huge role on history and the individuality and similarities of their structures. For example, both black and white pepper’s active element is Piperine; on the other hand chili pepper’s active ingredient is Capsaicin. Although both structures have a nitrogen connected to carbon and it is double bonded to an oxygen atom both have very distinctive characteristics such as their pungent flavor and concentrated heat. Another fascinating detail is that cloves and nutmeg, though they come from different plant families and regions, have an individual aromatic smell but at the same time have similar molecules.
ReplyDelete*-* Hamza shah *-* Stated -
ReplyDeleteIn the starting of the 15th century, peppers, nutmegs, and cloves were worth an extraordinary amount; an amount that could not be thought by a person in the 21st century, for (a) spice(s). Although spices are tremendously common now days, who are we to thank? The people of India? The people who exposed the spices to the world? Or simply god? As spices were exposed to other regions of the world, the demand for it rose, and the supply was diminutive. But, as people found out, the need for spices was high, along with, spices were worth a nice amount of money, the production of spices increased extremely fast. In need for spices, new places were explored, new paths from continent to continent were introduced, and at some points blood was shed. Peppers could be thought as like rocks; they both come in many colors, along with many sizes, the only problem with rocks is that they are not edible and they taste like….god knows what.
Its amazing how our bodies, along with our pain nerves react, when we compose a white or black pepper within us; by eating it. The shape(s) of the piperine is/are the victims of the hot-painful sensation we suffer when we expose a black or white pepper in out mouths. Geography plays a big role when talking about spices. Where a spice is originated, can tell what type of spice it is. For example, if you look at piperine (originated: Haiti) which is found in black and white peppers, zingeroe (originated: India, if not in Asia) which is found in the underground stem of the ginger plant, and capsaicin (originated: Mexico) which is found in chili peppers; all have a similar elemental structure, but all originated in completely different areas on the world. - structures and originations -
Piperine - C12N19O3N - originated - Haiti
Capsicum - C18H27O3N - originated - Mexico
Zingeroe - C11H14O - originated - India, if not, broadly in Asia.
Although, Europeans were desperate for spices at some points, they did not expose a lot of spices in their foods, compared to how Asians and Africans exposed spices in their foods. Why did/do Asians and Africans use a lot of spices in their foods? Is it because most of the spices were produced in the areas of Asia and Africa, or could their be another reason?
Along with peppers, Nutmeg and cloves were another very important spice, but unfortunately they were much more rare then peppers. Cloves are producers of oil, eugenol, and nutmeg are producers of oil isoeugenol. Its fascinating how two things which are originated in completely different areas, and look very different, could be composed with a oil with is very similar. With eugenol’s and isoeugenol’s elemental structure being very similar, zingerone, from ginger, elemental structure is also very similar to the one’s of eugenol and isoeugenol. Now the question is why? How could three distinct things, originated in distinct places, be so more alike? Although clovers and nutmegs are similar at some points, they have their distinct qualities. In places around the world nutmegs are used from, medical purposes, to food.
Since the production and use for peppers, nutmegs, and cloves has become very common, the value of these essential items has fallen, but the search of new items with such same qualities as these spices or better, are being searched for or are in finding. Although these spices are extremely common now, we still favor them in out foods, and medicines. As humans, selfishness and stupidly is within us, if for one second, we stop and think about important things of life such as spices, we would be fascinated.
This chapter was extremely interesting, who knew why my mouth experiences pain when I eat a red pepper….Its uncanny how people in the late 1340’s wore nutmeg bags around their necks for protection against the black death, which was upon Europe at that time. But, HAY…aren’t we all uncanny in our own little ways?
It's kinda ironic how I play with peppers and dont care how much i've used it because of its high value before. These spices were labeled as 'luxury' although it's now a common necessity in our current society. 3/4 are sold as black pepper, and i can't help but laugh because I didn't know that white pepper exists. These spices are mainly used as a preservative and flavor enhancer. With all the food we have today, we wouldn't really care if there's pepper or not. Instead, we would worry about its taste. Proper spice amount helps in food distinguishing and preserving those foods. All in all, these spices revolve around food, which is a complete need of an organism, specifically, human. It's kinda odd that the 'hot sensation' is the response of our pain nerves. Due to endorphins secreted (natural response to pain) we humans receives pleasure from these hot spices. So now, I found the answer why i still eat those kinds of things haha.. Such thing as aroma in cloves and nutmegs only differ in their double bond positions.
ReplyDeletecloves = Eugenol
nutmegs = Isoeugenol
Simple things like that alter each of molecules in chemistry resulting in different kinds of structures and functions.
It's kinda ironic how I play with peppers and dont care how much i've used it because of its high value before. These spices were labeled as 'luxury' although it's now a common necessity in our current society. 3/4 are sold as black pepper, and i can't help but laugh because I didn't know that white pepper exists. These spices are mainly used as a preservative and flavor enhancer. With all the food we have today, we wouldn't really care if there's pepper or not. Instead, we would worry about its taste. Proper spice amount helps in food distinguishing and preserving those foods. All in all, these spices revolve around food, which is a complete need of an organism, specifically, human. It's kinda odd that the 'hot sensation' is the response of our pain nerves. Due to endorphins secreted (natural response to pain) we humans receives pleasure from these hot spices. So now, I found the answer why i still eat those kinds of things haha.. Such thing as aroma in cloves and nutmegs only differ in their double bond positions.
ReplyDeletecloves = Eugenol
nutmegs = Isoeugenol
Simple things like that alter each of molecules in chemistry resulting in different kinds of structures and functions.
A cool fact that I learned from reading the fist chapter was that pepper has the ability to disguise rancidity. And that in the 16th century pepper was so valuable that it was even considered to be a novelty item.
ReplyDeleteIt was also very interesting to find out that after people eat something very spicy they can experience a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling due to endorphins opiate-like compounds that are produced in the brain as the body’s natural response to pain. So that’s the reason why a lot of people like spicy food because in a way it’s just a like an addiction, the hotter the chili, the more the pain and the greater amounts of endorphins produced meaning the greater the satisfaction.
Another fact that i thought was interesting was that clove oil is a powerful antiseptic and was used as a remedy for toothache, and now it is sometimes used as a tropical anesthetic in dentistry.
A cool fact that I learned from reading the fist chapter was that pepper has the ability to disguise rancidity. And that in the 16th century pepper was so valuable that it was even considered to be a novelty item.
ReplyDeleteIt was also very interesting to find out that after people eat something very spicy they can experience a feeling of satisfaction, a feeling due to endorphins opiate-like compounds that are produced in the brain as the body’s natural response to pain. So that’s the reason why a lot of people like spicy food because in a way it’s just a like an addiction, the hotter the chili, the more the pain and the greater amounts of endorphins produced meaning the greater the satisfaction.
Another fact that i thought was interesting was that clove oil is a powerful antiseptic and was used as a remedy for toothache, and now it is sometimes used as a tropical anesthetic in dentistry.
Finding out the history behind a simple pepper nowadays sold at the grocery store was quite, impressive!- What stood out to me the most was the fact that Venice's salt produced from its lagoons began the trading process which later helped obtain its independence(something, crazy because most countries obtaint their independence by fighting or help from other countried). With such freedom and self control Venice obtained pepper and became the "spice kings", and i think this was probably the best thign that could have happened to Venice after obtaining such power with their OWN natural resource!. Its crazy, to understand that pepper once signified, power. As my classmates have mentioned, i also learned the process that causes the body to react to a spicy pepper whos piperine substance becomes the most important compound as it becomes a protein, its then sent to the body changing the protein's shape and sending such signal to the brain and the body then reacts to the spice, -in most cases people begin sweating and get red faces becasue of such strong spice. I also learned that plants protect themselve with molecules like eugenol and piperine which are natural molecules, yet consuming large amounts can be harmful to humans becasue our liver's "detoxification process" is very immediate. Oh! - the fact that caught me the most attention was that cloves were once used as breath sweetners in a way like tic tacs! Nutmeg was used as a stomach pain killer and also required rich, moist draiend soild away from the sun and strogn winds! - which was a problem when obtaining its power. Many countried failed to have such weather conditions and trading became the solution to most ... but smart people like the Dutch used LIME before sending their products to prevent if from sprouting! SMART PEOPLE! -There is something i wonder about though-> The Black Death...such plague was the most feared..but why couldnt people prevent it from spreading all over Europe? Lack of medicine...but it seems as if people cared more about obtaining power with nutmeg and pepper and had solutions like the Dutch to prevent sprouting and all...but why couldnt they figue a way to stop such disease?...was it all about the power at the moment or were the lives of the people important..but not as much?
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter i learn about the history of peppers. The importance and the huge role that the pepper played.What i found intereting in this chapter was that pepper was so valuable that it would buy the freedom of a feudal laborer.Back then pepper was like a luxury that not all people could afford.I find this to be funny because now that people could afford it not all people buy it like before. I never thought that by something so small like pepper could build up a city like it did with venice. What i found funny from what i read was that even though the pepper is very spicy alot of people enjoy the feeling and the sensation that they feel in their mouth when eating a pepper, basically the the hotter it is the better."The hotter the chilli, the more the pain, so the greater the trace amounts of endorphis produced and ultimately the greater the pleasure". This is the line that i really like is just what i've said before.But pepper wasn't the only spice of great value there were other spices suh as Nutmeg and cloves they were also valuable but not much as peppers. The oil of clove was a powerful remedy for toothache. And like the clove the nutmeg was also use as a medication in china to treat stomach pains and in southeast Asia for dysentery or colic. Nutmeg was also use in a small bag around the neck to protect against the Black Death. Its sad how we eat things but we dont even know the history behind it.This chapter has alot of facts that not much people know about just like i did.
ReplyDeleteThis chapter deals with the impact spices made on society back then. They had many uses ranging from hiding the expired taste of food, preservation, medicine, and even as a flea repellent. I thought pepper was just black and grayish but I found out that only ¾ of pepper is black and there is a variety. There is white pepper that is obtained from the dried part of the fruit on the inside. The majority of black pepper comes from the unripe berries of the plant. They even have green pepper but I think the color of the pepper depends on what part of the plant they get it from or how they get it. They have many different methods of harvesting which results in different types of it…..Who would have known pepper had many uses other than for consuming? (I didn’t) The Greeks used pepper early on as “an antidote to poison”. The most common uses for spices were to use them as preservatives and to enhance flavor in their extremely bland food. Pepper became the new must have on the market due to its abilities to transform the quality and taste of food. Since pepper was so precious, nations started planning ways to cash in. India, in particular, had an enormous peppercorn crop which made it the most desirable place to get your hands on pepper. It was pepperland paradise. I found it interesting how maybe not the sole reason, but a good one, that Christopher Columbus wanted to get to India but instead came across the Americas. So my theory is that he wasn’t trying to find the “new world” he wanted to get dirty rich on pepper. Although he didn’t find what he was looking for, greed drove him to go on a second voyage which turned up chili peppers. Within half a century, chili peppers were distributed through out the world. I learned that chili peppers have different species inside of their “capsicum” genus. A genus (I think) is like the family or group made up of little subdivisions…I learned that different species include capsicum annuum: bell and banana peppers. Sweet capsicum frutescens: Tabasco peppers… Another aspect of species and peppers I found interesting is that when we digest “hot”/ “spicy” molecules like capsaicin [which is found in peppers] zingerone [found in ginger stems] and piperine [in pepper]; they attach to proteins on our nerves that cause pain or a tingling sensation that makes us think “whoa, this is spicy!”…it’s like a spicy alert to our brains…I also found out the intensity of a chili increases when it is dried. Spices even release endorphins which are known as the “happy chemical” that you also get when you exercise……Merchants invested on trips to India much like Americans bet on the stock market. It was risky because so many nations fought for control of the peppercorn capitol…..Spices like nutmeg & cloves were extremely expensive due to their rarity. People even died trying to get their hands on it. Nutmegs & cloves smell very different but their opposite smells can be attributed to the similarity in their molecules. Cloves have EUGENOL and nutmeg had ISOEUGENOL. The only difference is they are in different plant families and where their double bond is positioned. Nutmeg is a natural pesticide. These plants have these chemicals to fend for themselves from different kind of threats like bugs or animals…..I also learned that two spices are produced from the nutmeg tree: mace & nutmeg. Medical properties included helping tummy aches & protecting against the plague… the Europeans used it during the black plague to try to fend of the fleas and ticks that could contaminate them with the disease…There are numerous uses for these spices, most which I had no idea about…
ReplyDelete