Herbs
and Spices of Southeast Asia
By Marilyn Zink
Welcome armchairs travellers to the spices of Southeast Asia. We will
consider cinnamon and cloves, two of the most common spices in our kitchen
and their fascinating history and uses.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
The familiar spice of cinnamon comes from the bark of a tropical evergreen
tree that grows in Southeast Asia. True cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka.
The Cinnamon used in North America is from the cassia tree which is
grown in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, and Central America.
Cinnamon is usually ground and used in baked goods, cooked fruit,
mulled red wine and tea, but it has also been used in meat and fish
dishes. Cinnamon is also used in savory chicken and lamb dishes from
the Middle East. Cinnamon is a perfect partner for chocolate as it can
be used in any chocolate dessert or drink. It is used to mellow the
tartness of apple pie. Ground cinnamon should not be added to boiling
liquids; the liquid may become stringy and the cinnamon will lose flavor.
For a fragrant pilaf, cook rice in a cinnamon flavored broth and stir
in chopped dried fruit and toasted nuts. The sweet spicy flavor of cinnamon
enhances the taste of vegetables and fruits.
The coarsely ground seed is used in potpourri and the seed oil in
perfumery. The bark has been used medicinally as an antiseptic, astringent
and stimulant, and to relieve nausea, flatulence and diarrhea. Half
a teaspoon of cinnamon daily has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels,
according to an article by New Scientist.
History and Folklore
Cinnamon has been popular since ancient times. Egyptians imported it
from China in 2000 BC. Romans believed Cinnamon was sacred, and Nero
burned a year's supply of the spice at the funeral for his wife. Finding
Cinnamon was a primary motive of world exploration in the 15th and 16th
centuries.
Cassia was the first cinnamon species that has made its way to Europe,
at least since Alexander the Great. Before this time, cassia was transported
as far as to Egypt, where it was part of mummification mixtures for
the pharaohs, and to Israel, since cassia is mentioned several times
in the Bible.
Today, cassia is the preferred cinnamon species from peninsular South
East Asia to Central Asia. In Western countries, Ceylon cinnamon is
usually preferred for its purer and less harsh taste. Although cassia
seems to be rather common in the US, it is hardly available in Europe
unless in Chinese markets. Cassia can be substituted by cinnamon without
loss of authenticity.
Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)
Cloves are the rich, brown, dried, unopened flower buds of Syzygium
aromaticum, an evergreen tree in the myrtle family. The pink flower
buds turn reddish-brown after drying and are pungent and sweet tasting.
The name of cloves comes from the French "clou" meaning nail.
Cloves come from Madagascar, Brazil, Panang, and Ceylon. Much of the
world crop is used in Indonesia for Clove cigarettes, called "kreteks".
Cloves are used to spice cookies and cakes. Ground cloves add spicy
depth to gingerbread, cookies, applesauce, muffins, cakes, and other
sweets. It's a secret ingredient in barbecue and cocktail sauces. Blend
ground cloves with maple syrup and drizzle over cooked sweet potatoes
and winter squash. Add a few whole cloves to bean and split pea soups
(remove before serving). Eugenol (clove oil) will collect and cake in
the container when cloves are stored in a warm place. If you choose
to grind your own cloves, do not use a grinder that has plastic parts.
Clove oil can cloud some plastics.
Cloves can be chewed as a breath freshener or infused as a tea to relieve
nausea. Clove oil dropped into a tooth cavity is said to stop toothache.
It is applied externally to ease neuralgia and rheumatism.
History and Folklore
Cloves are native to the Molucca Islands, now a part of Indonesia. Cloves
have been used for thousands of years. One of the earliest references
to them says that the Chinese, in order to approach the emperor, had
to have a few cloves in their mouths to sweeten the breath. Cloves were
once very costly and played an important part in world history. Wars
were fought in Europe and with native islanders to secure rights to
the profitable clove business. Natives in the Molucca Islands planted
a clove tree for each child born. They believed that the fate of the
tree was linked to the fate of that child. In 1816, the Dutch set a
fire to destroy Clove trees and raise prices. The natives revolted in
a bloody battle which changed the climate and politics of the area forever.
For related articles, please see:
Herbs and Spices Of The World: Mexico
Herbs and Spices Of The World:
Middle East
Herbs
and Spices of the World - China
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