Spices

Spices are dried pieces of plants used to flavor food. They come from seeds, roots, bark, and buds. Common spices include pepper, cinnamon, and ginger. Each spice has its own smell and taste. Cooks all over the world use spices to make food yummy.

Types of Spices

Black pepper comes from the dried berries of a vine. Cinnamon is made from the bark of a tree. Ginger is the root of a plant. Nutmeg is a seed, and cloves are flower buds. Each one tastes very different.

Spices in History

A long time ago, spices were very hard to find. They only grew in far away places like India and China. People sailed around the world to trade for them. Spices were worth a lot of money. Some explorers found new lands while looking for spices.

Fun Facts

• Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world.
• Christopher Columbus was looking for spices when he sailed to America.
• Cinnamon sticks come from the bark of a tree called the cinnamon tree.

Did You Know?

It takes about 75,000 crocus flowers to make just one pound of saffron. That is why it costs so much!