The storyof our obsession with spices is a fascinating and ancient one that traces the rise and fall of many empires. From the early Romans, to the Portuguese, Spanish and British empires, fortunes and lives have been formed and lost in our insatiable quest for flavour. In this program a team of young presenters take us to India, Asia, South America and Europe to discover the fascinating history of spices. Meeting some amazing characters along the way, this program with its mouth-watering recipes, brings food to life.

Humanity's desire for spices and other luxury items eventually connected the entire globe. Track the powerful trading empires of the Venetians and Portuguese, the Spanish conquest of the New World, and the "Columbian exchange" -- where plants and animals from five continents were globally transplanted, changing eating habits around the world.

"Award-winning writer Eleanor Ford's recipes and stories explore how centuries of spice trading and cultural diffusion changed the world's cuisine. A unique and enlightening guide to cooking with spice, the book looks at their flavour profiles and how they can be used combined and layered - how some bring sweetness, others fragrance, heat, pungency, sourness or earthiness. There are 80 spice-infused recipes in this collection following the trails of ancient maritime trade through Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Iran and the Emirates. Eleanor combines historical research with a travel writer's eye and a cook's nose for a memorable recipe. Interwoven are stories that explore how spices from across the Indian Ocean - the original cradle of spice - have, over time, been adopted into cuisines around the world." -- Publisher.