Europe

Europe isn't exactly a spice continent, in the sense that many spices grow or are cultivated there. But Europe has held a key position in the global spice trade for centuries. The colonial powers—the Netherlands and Great Britain, Spain and Portugal—amassed great wealth through the trade of spices from distant, tropical regions. Italy also benefited from this, with Venice at the heart of the spice trade in the 15th century.

Spain, Italy, France, and Hungary are four European countries with a rich tradition of growing chili peppers, the flavoring of the New World. There's a growing trend to cultivate other exotic spices in Europe; vanilla is a recent example. Is this a positive development or not?

In Poland, a tradition is being transformed into a business model through the wild harvest of juniper berries. It's a win-win situation: preserving traditions, preserving and preserving juniper berries, and a flavorful, honest product. A true discovery!