Not only did spices dominate the European trade market from the 12th through the 17th centuries; they also served as a catalyst for broadened exploration.

Add the eggplant, Swiss chard and spices and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Cover the pot, if necessary, to help the vegetables cook without adding extra liquid. Add the mint, garlic and pomegranate juice.

These dishes were heavy on the spice for more than just flavor: spices were expensive imports that communicated to everyone at the party just how good the hosts had it. It's giving caviar.

Tens of thousands of centuries-old books are being pulled from the shelves of a medieval abbey in Hungary in an effort to ...

The retrieved spices included ginger, black pepper, clove and saffron — which still retained a “distinctive aroma” after 527 years underwater, researchers said.

Divers off the coast of Sweden recently recovered a fully stocked pantry from a medieval shipwreck, researchers said. Despite having been submerged in the ocean for over 500 years, fruits were ...

In medieval Europe, sour fruit sauce with wild fowl was a popular combination, one that balanced a cold and moist condiment with a hot, dry meat. In the mid-17th century, for example, the famous ...