31 Things you didn’t know about spices and herbs!

Fresh herbs and spices not only offer flavour without adding calories, but they also have the potential to be restorative foods.

Herbs and spices are classified as plant-based ingredients that enhance the flavour of any cuisine. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. 

What are herbs and spices?

Roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, and seeds are all examples of plant parts that can be used to make spices. However, herbs are usually considered non-woody plants. No one knows yet when the first herbs and spices were used as flavouring agents by humans but we know early man co-evolved with the flowering plants in the world around him starting 6 million years ago. 

Garlic and onions were used 4,500 years ago, according to archaeological evidence. Spices were utilised by humans to help preserve meals prior to refrigeration. Both were also used in religious rituals, medicines, seasoning, and trade. Also, it is very interesting to know that spices appear in the Bible on a number of occasions.

In his journey memoirs, Marco Polo regularly mentioned spices (around AD 1298). He praised the flavour of Afghan sesame oil, as well as the ginger and cassia plants of Kain-du (Peking), where residents drank tasty rice and spice wine.

In this blog, we don’t want to speak about a specific spice or herb. We actually want to share some facts about herbs which you didn’t know, or you didn’t expect. 

You are more than welcome to share the facts you know about herbs and spices with us through our social channels including Instagram and we will share them with our audience.

31 Things you didn’t know about spices and herbs!

1. The fruits of the Piper Nigrum plant, green, white, and black pepper, are all the same. Fighter Shots adds black pepper to its turmeric shots as it aids the absorption of turmeric to boost potential benefits.
2. The vanilla orchid's cured and ripened fruit is known as vanilla beans.
3. Celery seeds are high in sodium, potassium, calcium, and iron (approximately 10 milligrams per tablespoon).
4. Saffron is the world's most costly spice, costing somewhere between $500 and $5,000 per pound.
5. One pound of Saffron can take up to 75,000 blossoms to create.
6. Sumac is one of the lesser-known spices, yet this wine-coloured powder has a wide range of applications. The coarse powder is made from the sumac bush's dark red berries, which are endemic to the Middle East. In countries like Iran and Turkey people add Sumac to their dishes like Kebab as they believe it helps digestion.
7. The Three most popular spices in the world are pepper, cumin, and mustard.
8. In 2018, India ranked first in spice consumption with 4,471 kt, followed by Bangladesh and Indonesia, based on a comparison of 135 nations.
9. Spices and herbs like thyme, oregano, turmeric, and cinnamon have distinct flavours due to chemicals that are hazardous in high concentrations.
10. Black pepper is justifiably known as the "King of Spices” and Cardamom, or Elettaria Cardamomum Maton is one of the world's most valuable and unusual spices, deserving of the title "queen of spices."
11. Clover, henbane, mistletoe, monkshood, pasqueflower, primrose and vervain are known as the 7 holy herbs.
12. Ginger, cumin, cardamom, rosemary, cinnamon, and turmeric are the herbs that give your weight loss plan a boost. 
13. Turmeric is one of the most extensively studied medicinal plants.
14. Salt is the most important seasoning ingredient.
15. If you store whole or unground spices properly, it can last up to 4 years.
16. Rosemary is a herb that has been shown to help prevent blood vessel damage and improve cardiovascular health.
17. Parsley is strong in antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and the chemical apigenin, which has been shown in multiple studies to help suppress the formation of cancer cells.
18. Ginger appears to be beneficial in treating gastrointestinal problems, particularly diarrhoea or nausea induced by morning sickness during pregnancy, as well as nausea and vomiting following surgery or chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients.
19. Since 3000 BC, Egyptian herbalist schools have existed.
20. Many herbs have years, if not millennia, of symbolic value. The ancient Romans, for example, used bay leaf wreaths as a symbol of victory and peace.
21. Saffron can be lethal in doses as low as 10 grammes (3/4 tablespoon).
22. Thyme has long been related to bravery, and its name comes from the Greek word for bravery, Thymus.
23. While most herbs have their origins in natural therapies, sage was formerly considered the holy grail of herbal medicine.
24.  Mint was rubbed on tables to greet visitors in ancient Greece, and it is still served to visitors in the Middle East in the form of tea.
25. Oregano, in addition to boosting current affection, is said to aid with the process of letting go, so it's no wonder that a pizza after a break-up is frequently just the thing.
26. A wristband of lavender was used to protect against the plague in the 17th century.
27.  Earthworms are high in Omega 3 and protein and are considered to go well with cumin and curry.
28.  The Cinnamon Challenge is harmful, has sent several people to the hospital, and can lead to long-term lung damage.
29. Turmeric powder has been shown in many tests to be remarkably effective against Alzheimer's symptoms, and it now outperforms any known Alzheimer's treatment.
30. 1. Home cures for vaginal yeast infections include garlic, yoghurt, and tea tree oil.
31. Fighter Shots’ ginger shot has been awarded a 1-star GREAT TASTE AWARD of 2020 and it consists of 27gr of raw organic ginger in every Ginger shot bottle!