Overview
Bold aromas waft from the North African souk -- cumin, coriander, nigella, capsicum, tamarind, galangal, turmeric, fenugreek, and makrut lime. An exotic mix of flavors overwhelms the senses as they conjure up the travels of Marco Polo, the Arabian caravans, the dhow boatmen plying the Indian Ocean from Zanzibar to the Malabar Coast.The Spice Routes takes the reader -- whether armchair traveler, weekend cook, serious foodie, or curious culture vulture -- on an exotic journey few can ever replicate in real life, through the spices' antiquity, the cuisines, the ethnic customs, the geography, and the age-old recipes.
Brought to life by Chris Caldicott's own dazzling photography, this rich narrative propels us along on an enchanting voyage of discovery and simultaneously seduces both the traveler and the cook in each of us.
The authors, Chris and Carolyn Caldicott, recount how they followed the trails of the early spice merchants. Together, we travel with them through the eastern Mediterranean, the Indian subcontinent, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and the Spice Islands of the Indian Ocean. All along the way, the authors explain how indigenous spices were traded and how foreign spices arrived. They explore the effect the spices have had on the local cuisines, supplying the recipes for the dishes they discovered on their journeys.