Herbs and Spices

The Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, wrote the first known herbal nearly 5000 years ago. Since then the recorded uses of herbs and spices have been passed down to include the medicinal uses, flavoring foods, dyes for fabrics and cosmetics, scents for ourselves and our homes, insect repellents, skin care, and decoration.

The spice trade spread ideas of cooking and living standards throughout Asia and Europe. After 1066 the Arabs began to grow commercial crops of licorice, saffron and sugar that were transported to Britain. A small-scale production of plants that could grow in the northern climates began. Medieval cookbooks included the use of spices and herbs for coloring the food and liberal use of strong spices. It is often assumed that spices were used to cover up the taste of tainted meat in a time before refrigeration, but there are also many recipes of highly spiced grains and legumes. With continued search for better spice routes, Christopher Columbus landed, not in the spice islands of Indonesia, but in North America—and as they say, “the rest is history”. The herbs of the new world were transported back to Europe and the spices and herbs of the world were brought with the settlers to the new colonies. The Shakers planted their first gardens in New York in 1820 and made a thriving business of drying, mixing and selling herbs.

At The Great Galena Peddlery our herbs and spices are obtained from all over the world. Each is selected from the best growing region for that particular plant. You will find them the freshest and most favorable available.