The Spice Odyssey
A Journey Through Flavour....
Read our article featured in Wellbeing Magazine down below!
The Colourful History of Spices...
Spices have shaped human history for millennia, originating from ancient trade routes like the beginnings of the Silk Road.
Highly sought after for their flavour, value and medicinal properties, spices such as cinnamon, pepper and cloves have incited wars and driven exploration and instigated colonisation.
Nations competed for control over the spice trade, leading to significant geopolitical changes and the establishment of trade empires.
It is often forgotten that spices were once more valuable than gold, due to their rarity and demand. Spice was its own currency in many cultures, exchanged for precious metals, textiles, and used to pay taxes and debts. Today, spices continue to connect and unify cultures by driving culinary innovation through shared experiences.
Highly sought after for their flavour, value and medicinal properties, spices such as cinnamon, pepper and cloves have incited wars and driven exploration and instigated colonisation.
Nations competed for control over the spice trade, leading to significant geopolitical changes and the establishment of trade empires.
It is often forgotten that spices were once more valuable than gold, due to their rarity and demand. Spice was its own currency in many cultures, exchanged for precious metals, textiles, and used to pay taxes and debts. Today, spices continue to connect and unify cultures by driving culinary innovation through shared experiences.
Health, Longevity & Beauty...
Long considered superfoods, spices have been used throughout history for their Ayurvedic properties – to promote health and longevity.
Turmeric, with its golden hue, boasts curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory that promotes radiant skin and robust vitality. Cinnamon, particularly Ceylon Cinnamon, aids in blood sugar regulation, enhancing overall wellness. Meanwhile, cardamom not only invigorates the senses but also supports digestion and detoxification. Interestingly, spices have also formed the basis of many beauty products for hundreds of years.
Antioxidant-rich turmeric and cinnamon help combat free radicals and protect the skin from damage. Turmeric is often used as a base in skin masks due to its skin-brightening effects and coarsely ground cinnamon is often used as an exfoliant to illuminate the skin. Most commonly, however, the aromatic properties of the oils of spices such as cinnamon, cloves and cardamom form the basis of many perfumes used throughout the world.
Turmeric, with its golden hue, boasts curcumin, a potent anti-inflammatory that promotes radiant skin and robust vitality. Cinnamon, particularly Ceylon Cinnamon, aids in blood sugar regulation, enhancing overall wellness. Meanwhile, cardamom not only invigorates the senses but also supports digestion and detoxification. Interestingly, spices have also formed the basis of many beauty products for hundreds of years.
Antioxidant-rich turmeric and cinnamon help combat free radicals and protect the skin from damage. Turmeric is often used as a base in skin masks due to its skin-brightening effects and coarsely ground cinnamon is often used as an exfoliant to illuminate the skin. Most commonly, however, the aromatic properties of the oils of spices such as cinnamon, cloves and cardamom form the basis of many perfumes used throughout the world.
Transforming Dishes with Spices...
Spices should be embraced for the ease with which they are able to effortlessly transform simple ingredients into extraordinary meals.
A pinch of cumin can add warmth, while a sprinkle of chilli flakes introduces heat. Ceylon Cinnamon brings sweetness and creates depth, while a teaspoon of turmeric adds vibrant colour and an earthy flavour. Just a dash of smoked paprika gives a dish depth and complexity while just three or four pods of fragrant cardamom has the ability to completely change the flavour profile of your desserts.
Spices enhance flavour and bring rich narratives into your dining experiences.
A pinch of cumin can add warmth, while a sprinkle of chilli flakes introduces heat. Ceylon Cinnamon brings sweetness and creates depth, while a teaspoon of turmeric adds vibrant colour and an earthy flavour. Just a dash of smoked paprika gives a dish depth and complexity while just three or four pods of fragrant cardamom has the ability to completely change the flavour profile of your desserts.
Spices enhance flavour and bring rich narratives into your dining experiences.
Embrace the art of spice by infusing spices into your everyday life....
Start the morning off with a sprinkle of Ceylon Cinnamon over your fruit, yoghurt, cereal or oats, or add a dash of smoked paprika and chilli to supercharge your eggs.
For a delicious and healthy lunch, rub a piece of fish with a little ground cumin, coriander and paprika and place in the oven with some chilli-rubbed baby carrots.
For afternoon tea, have a slice of your favourite cake, infused with cardamom and cinnamon, while sipping on a flavourful golden, turmeric latte. For dinner, and especially as we go into the colder months, just add a teaspoon of curry powder to your favourite vegetables and meat, add some coconut milk, and serve on a bed of cumin-infused rice.
For a delicious and healthy lunch, rub a piece of fish with a little ground cumin, coriander and paprika and place in the oven with some chilli-rubbed baby carrots.
For afternoon tea, have a slice of your favourite cake, infused with cardamom and cinnamon, while sipping on a flavourful golden, turmeric latte. For dinner, and especially as we go into the colder months, just add a teaspoon of curry powder to your favourite vegetables and meat, add some coconut milk, and serve on a bed of cumin-infused rice.
Flavourful Alchemy – The Best of the Spice Mixes...
The best spice mixes are more than simply the sum of their parts and are worth their weight in gold.
Lord & Lion, a heritage brand of beautiful, luxury spices, sauces and condiments, was founded by Eresha De Zoysa, a Sydney local and fourth-generation spice merchant whose family has been in the tea and spice business in Sri Lanka for over 120 years.
De Zoysa grew up in a family truly passionate about spices and their power to bring people together and celebrate culture. De Zoysa says her favourite spice blends are the Sri Lankan Curry Powder, the Spicy Coconut Spice Blend and the Butter Chicken Spice Blend.
“These spice blends are the highest grade of spices available anywhere, hand-harvested, single-origin and made in small batches,” said De Zoysa. “These spices can simply be used as a spice rub for a quick meal or slow cooked for a hearty wintry candlelit dinner. Their versatility is what also makes them so special”
Perfected over generations, these spice blends are the pantry staple that demystifies cooking with spices. Once upon a time, the wealthy aristocrats, as a symbol of their wealth and refinement, stored their spices in beautiful, ornate jars made of silver, gold or ceramic.
Lord & Lion’s packaging pays tribute to this history and reveres spices as truly a gift from the Gods. You can find Lord & Lion’s spice range at David Jones, Harrods, independent fine food stores and online at www.lordandlion.com.
Lord & Lion, a heritage brand of beautiful, luxury spices, sauces and condiments, was founded by Eresha De Zoysa, a Sydney local and fourth-generation spice merchant whose family has been in the tea and spice business in Sri Lanka for over 120 years.
De Zoysa grew up in a family truly passionate about spices and their power to bring people together and celebrate culture. De Zoysa says her favourite spice blends are the Sri Lankan Curry Powder, the Spicy Coconut Spice Blend and the Butter Chicken Spice Blend.
“These spice blends are the highest grade of spices available anywhere, hand-harvested, single-origin and made in small batches,” said De Zoysa. “These spices can simply be used as a spice rub for a quick meal or slow cooked for a hearty wintry candlelit dinner. Their versatility is what also makes them so special”
Perfected over generations, these spice blends are the pantry staple that demystifies cooking with spices. Once upon a time, the wealthy aristocrats, as a symbol of their wealth and refinement, stored their spices in beautiful, ornate jars made of silver, gold or ceramic.
Lord & Lion’s packaging pays tribute to this history and reveres spices as truly a gift from the Gods. You can find Lord & Lion’s spice range at David Jones, Harrods, independent fine food stores and online at www.lordandlion.com.