The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-06-23
The Use Of Spices.

Spices make up the aesthetics of eat.
ing; they are the finest and most ex.
quisite products of Nature, for they
contain the condensed aroma of essen
tial oils, produced by the intense rays
of the sun. Almost all spices grow on
islands, that is the East India Islands,
Madagascar, the Mauritius, the Bandu
Islands, the Malincas, S .matra. Java,
Ceylon, japan and the East Indian Isl.
ands; the coasts of tropical countries
are also productive of spices.
Spices have q peculiar effect upon
the human system; if taken wisely and
in moderation, they certainly produce
flow of saliva, of the gastric juice,
and, having exerted pleasant action
upon the nerves of the tongue and
palate, they communicate certain
warmth to the blood and stimulate the
system beneticially.
Tho peculiar source of the aroma is
not always in the same part OF the
plant, but may be contained in the
fruit, the leaves, the bark or the root,
according to where the treasure has
been deposited.
Vi fruits, none is more useful than
the pepper, mostly grown in East India
and Ceylon, and throughout the East.
When the berry of this shrub is ground
with its dark cuticle it makes the black
pepper, when it is ground without it, it
forms white pepper. Pepper is most
useful condiment, if used sparingly.
and enhances the natural aroma Of
many foods. 1t is a preyentive.of iudi-
gestion, stimulating the digestive or
gans.
Allspice is the mild West Indian or
Jamaica pepper, also called pimento
Nutmeg is the fruit Of Eastern trees
and shrubs, and exceedingly grateful to
the palate, in fact 50 exquisite and
mild a favor that it suits we'll with
fariraceous substances.
Mace is the cuticle of nutmeg. and,
with some people, a greater favorite still.
1t suits well for delicate stews.
The Glove is tho tiower-bud of a tree
and becomes of dark hue, when it has
been dried in the sun. r
Mustard is q seed of a plant which
grows in temperate and tropical cli-
mates. Its pungency is SO great that
when ground fine it has to be mixed
with starch to moderate it. Mustard ID
very useful and healthy condiment.
Vanilla, the fruit of the vanilla plant,
is indigenous to Mexico, Brazil. Peru,
etc., and cultivated in the West Indies.
Gathered before ripe, dried id the shade.
and stepped in the oil of the Cashew
nut, this spice is the most aromatic OF
all spices, and of exquisite flavor as an
essence.
Of the banks, cinnamon is esteemed
most; it is a very valuable assistant to
digestion and can safely be given to
children now and then. The young
shoots of the tree are. used for the
pipes, and when dried are ground into
pow der.
Of roots and bulbs. ginger is the most
useful, either as preserve or used
whole in dried state, or also ground
into powder. Both with ginger and Gin
narnon better results are obtained by
blending various grades thannG RNtting
It up perfectly pure. LaEaE
i. Curry powder is thescombtnstSn OF
many spices. and has come to us from
the East. Unfortunately our clumsy
ways often spoil the mixtures by not
preserving that delicacy of combination
which alone can produce the. true favor
it ought to possess. Curry is far more
useful in food economy than we UNDER
stand as yet, and deserves our best at
tention. Food and Health.