Weald & Downland Living Museum
14/10/2021
1 day
As winter approaches and we are comforted by thoughts of warming spices, this workshop - run by Christina Stapley, author of The Tree Dispensary - will help us to understand their high importance in the past. We begin with the spice accounts of the rich then relating these to stocks kept by the apothecary and entries in the Pharmacopoeias. Over several centuries the irreplaceable role of spices is revealed. Gaining control of their lucrative trade drove exploration for a new route to the East Indian ‘spice islands’ battles over their possession, and cartels in Venice to store many years harvest in order to fix high prices.
But what is their real value? It is certainly more than flavour and leads us to investigate the medicinal properties of nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, pimento, cloves, galangal, cubebs and grains of paradise. Making recipes on the day will give practical experience of exploring the depths of their antibacterial, pain-relieving, digestive and anti-inflammatory properties and learning how to put these to best use in our daily lives. From the gentle aromatic distilled waters to powerful essential oils and fresh and powdered spices the day promises to be filled with spicy fragrant heat and rich in discovery of these fascinating, exotic ingredients.
Weald & Downland Living Museum
https://www.wealddown.co.uk/events/spices-history-use-in-medicine/
