On Spice: Advice, Wisdom, and History with a Grain of Saltiness

A revealing look at the history and production of spices, with modern, no-nonsense advice on using them at home—salt, saffron, vanilla, ginger, turmeric, and much more.

Every home cook has thoughts on the right and wrong ways to use spices. These beliefs are passed down in family recipes and pronounced by television chefs, but where do such ideas come from? Many are little better than superstition, and most serve only to reinforce a cook’s sense of superiority or cover for their insecurities...