New series on herbs and spices

Press, 15 November 1984, Page 11

New series on herbs and spices

“The Spice of Life,” a 13part series starting on Two at 4.40 p.m. on Saturday, is the extraordinary story of one of the greatest influences on mankind. Its heroes are almost unrecognised — they are tiny, unassuming spices and herbs. Cinnamon, cloves, garlic and pepper are but a few that have not only made food throughout the world what it is today, but left their mark on medicine, religion and business. The hunt for them shaped our modern world. To reach and exploit the fabled spices of the East, Europeans found and subdued whole continents; they conquered and colonised India and beyond. They developed new ways of financing projects and invented companies and corporations. The “Spice of Life” unit has circled the world, like Drake and Magellan, in the fascinating search for spices.. Filming has taken place in India, China, Japan, Mexico, the Caribbean, Indonesia, America and Europe. The unit has discovered that nutmeg and mace come from the same fruit, that saffron is part of the crocus, and have visited the

oldest clove' tree in the world. Often, for the first time the camera has gone into famous kitchens and watched great chefs perform with herbs and spices. The programmes show how subtle and varied flavours transform cooking everywhere — from the dishes at a Maharajah’s banquet, to a special herbs restaurant in Cliina, from the finest French food to a family meal in the remote Spice Islands. “The Spice of Life” is a series for people who like to eat and for people who like to think, says TVNZ. For everybody who watches, those spice jars on the kitchen shelf will take on a new importance.