- Spices, flowers, leaves or shells are dried, giving flavor and healing in all four seasons.
 
Spices, sometimes called a flower, sometimes a giant tree bark, sometimes an orchid bulb, are plants that have been used by human beings for different purposes since ancient times.
 
- The Far East is considered to be the place where spices were first used. The first recognized spice in Europe was Indian Black Pepper. In those years, it is also recorded that it was said that something was expensive, like black pepper. Cinnamon, which was used to make oil and ointment by Europeans, was brought to Alexandria by caravans from countries such as India and Ceylon. So much so that it was once thought that cinnamon was grown in Arabia. According to Dioscorides and Plinius, who did not know that ginger, which has been used in China and India since ancient times, came from India, this spice was introduced to the Greeks by the Persians. Ginger played a major role in the Roman diets.
 
- The use of ginger in Medieval Europe was as common as black pepper and just as expensive. Used as medicine and dye, saffron from Kashmir, Iran and Phrygia was known and used by the Romans.
 
- The passage of spice to Europe through the Byzantine Empire was prevented from the 9th century. But the need for spice for the preservation of meat consumed in large quantities and its fine taste did not make the wealthy classes forget about it.
 
The spice star rose again in Europe and saffron began to be cultivated in France and Italy. When the eastern Mediterranean ports (Alexandria) were reopened to European traders, the Venetians established a monopoly on the European market.
 
- At the end of the Middle Ages, the passion for spices in Europe had increased tremendously. It was fashionable to cook spicy dishes at pompous banquets. The wealthy spice merchants made this work an art in Florence and sold 288 kinds of spices at the beginning of the 19th century. Trying to provide spices to break free from Venice's monopoly was one of the important reasons for the great geographical discoveries. 16th and 17th.
In the centuries, colonial countries such as Portugal, Spain, England, France and the Netherlands entered into a tight race in the spice trade.
 
- Coconut and Mexican vanilla, mentioned by Ibn Sina, arrived in Europe at the beginning of the 16th century. Numerous healing qualities were attributed to the spices, which arrived in large quantities in Atlantic ports. Until 1560, the price of spice was on a steady rise in Lisbon. For the next two centuries, spice was an ever-increasing commodity. The increase in spice-growing countries and the change in food taste reduced the commercial importance of spices at the beginning of the 19th century.
 
- Spices were brought to Anatolia by caravans from African countries. The spices that came to our southern provinces on camels were then sent to other provinces and Istanbul from there. As spice varieties began to be cultivated in the Far East, they were brought to Iskenderun by sea. Over time, many spices began to be grown in our country, as it was both difficult to bring and not economical. However, 5-6 varieties such as Black Pepper and Coconut, which cannot be grown due to the unsuitable climatic conditions, are already brought to our country from other places.
 
- Spices are mostly used by Indians today. In addition, the use of spices is very common in Europe and America. Spices have a great importance especially in Italian and French cuisines. Turkey is also among the countries that use the most spices. Especially in our Southeast provinces, hot pepper consumption is quite high.
 
spice groups
1- Roots are used: Black radish, red radish.
2- Those whose stems are used: Ginger, cinnamon, etc.
3- Those whose leaves are used: such as mint, thyme, marigold, parsley, laurel.
4- Those in the form of onions: Kitchen onions, such as garlic.
5- Those whose flowers are used: Like carnations.
6- Fruits used: Cumin, anise, black pepper, red pepper, vanilla.
7- Those whose seeds are used: Such as mustard, nutmeg.- Spices, flowers, leaves or shells are dried, giving flavor and healing in all four seasons.
 
Spices, sometimes called a flower, sometimes a giant tree bark, sometimes an orchid bulb, are plants that have been used by human beings for different purposes since ancient times.
 
- The Far East is considered to be the place where spices were first used. The first recognized spice in Europe was Indian Black Pepper. In those years, it is also recorded that it was said that something was expensive, like black pepper. Cinnamon, which was used to make oil and ointment by Europeans, was brought to Alexandria by caravans from countries such as India and Ceylon. So much so that it was once thought that cinnamon was grown in Arabia. According to Dioskorides and Plinius, who did not know that ginger, which has been used in China and India since ancient times, came from India, this spice was given to the Greeks by Plinth.