Spices

And the spice stories take everything in about our history, from Drake to Magellan, to discovering America. yet know we take those tastes for granted. 

Nutmeg was bought by travellers and merchants through the great cities of Constantinople to Venice, who for centuries controlled the spice supplies. 

They were primarily prized for their ability to hide (and preserve) taste of meat, and also various spurious claims to improved health - and of course sexuality.

It is hard to image how valuable these stuffs were. At one time a small handbag of nutmegs (those dull dry things) could buy a fancy house in fancy Holborn - complete with servant. 

No wonder there were all sorts of wars going on around them - at all levels, from ship workers up to wars between countries.

Lets look at Nutmeg,

but then also cinnaman, cloves..