Lecture 9: Spices

Question 1

What part of the plant can be considered a spice?

Answer 1

aromatic fruits, flowers, bark, or other plant parts

Question 2

The aroma, fragrance or “spiciness” is given by the chemicals produced within ______.

Answer 2

secretory tissues

Question 3

True or False: Spices are also powerful antibiotics and can be used a preservatives.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

______ smells have been associated with immortality and _____ smells have been used in rituals to appease benevolent spirits.

Answer 4

Pleasant, good

Question 5

What is the latin name for perfume and incense?

Answer 5

“by smoke”

“that which is lit”

Question 6

What is the first documented story of spices?

Answer 6

1000 BC Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia/Yemen region) went to visit King Solomon and bared gifts of spices and gold.

Question 7

What spices made Sheba rich?

Answer 7

commerce with spices: myrrh, black pepper, cloves, ginger & cinnamon

Question 8

_____ is a red brown resin that is a ancient constituent of perfumes and incense, worth more than its weight in gold

Answer 8

Myrrh

Question 9

What are two physiological properties of Myrrh?

Answer 9

Antiseptic

Stimulant

Question 10

In the _______, there are various songs about spices.

Answer 10

Song of Solomon

Question 11

Spices were used in early _______ as aromatic body ointments and pomades

Answer 11

Egypt

Question 12

What are examples of perfumes and fragrances the egyptians used?

Answer 12

almond, cedar (Cedrus spp. not Thuja!), cinnamon, citron, ginger, peppermint, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, pine, juniper, myrrh

Question 13

_____ is the process where the body eviscerated and filled with spices. Sewn up and placed in sodium solution for 70 days. Wrapped in linen and smeared with gum.

Answer 13

Embalming

Question 14

In Medieval Europe, _______ was so valuable that it was often used as a collateral or even as a currency.

Answer 14

black pepper

Question 15

In black & white pepper, The fruit is a ______

Answer 15

drupe

Question 16

___ pepper is the entire fruit harvested green and dried (peppercorn); _____ pepper is just the pit after the external part of the fruit is removed)

Answer 16

black, white

Question 17

What is the chemical in black pepper?

Answer 17

piperine

Question 18

What spice is a antioxidant and accelerates energy metabolism in the body and also increases the serotonin and beta-endorphin production in the brain.

Answer 18

Black and White pepper

Question 19

Pepper is a vine native to where?

Answer 19

SE Asia

Question 20

_____ is used against nausea, dizziness, and vomiting as symptoms of motion sickness, and vomiting during pregnancy (Gravol!).

Answer 20

Ginger

Question 21

What are three physiological symptoms ginger can treat?

Answer 21

Antioxidant
Gastrointestinal problems
Anti-inflammatory

Question 22

What part of the ginger plant is used?

Answer 22

Rhizome

Question 23

True or False: Ginger is naive to South Asia

Answer 23

True

Question 24

In ____, the spice comes from the bark of the small tree.

Answer 24

Cinnamon

Question 25

What spice has antiviral properties, can prevent colon cancer, and improves glucose and lipid levels in people with type 2 diabetes?

Answer 25

Cinnamon

Question 26

_____ is native to India and Sri Lanka (S Asia)

Answer 26

Cinnamon

Question 27

What is the chemical in cinnamon that activates the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response in human epithelial colon cells?

Answer 27

cinnamic aldehyde

Question 28

____ is a a tree native to Indonesia, used from dried flower buds.

Answer 28

Cloves

Question 29

What are 3 used for cloves?

Answer 29

Clove oil (Eugenol) is used in stomatology (mild anesthetic and temporary fillings) Reduces blood sugar levels Tellimagrandin II with anti-herpes virus properties

Question 30

True or False: Cinnamon was valued in China, where they were used to sweeten the breath of court officials before they addressed the emperor.

Answer 30

False, cloves

Question 31

How were spices traded across vast distances?

Answer 31

Camel caravans carried spices from Somalia & Ethiopia and spices from India and beyond to the Mediterranean ports of Gaza and Alexandria

Question 32

The land route of the ancient spice trade route is known as _____.

Answer 32

Incense road 65 stages, each a suitable halt for camels.

Question 33

True or False: The desire for incense & spice had a significant impact on the early history of world exploration, colonization and trade.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

What plant protects against colon cancer?

Answer 34

Cinnamon