Spice Odyssey, by Cariema Isaacs

Spice Odyssey, by Cariema Isaacs. Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa. Imprint: Lifestyle. Cape Town, South Africa 2019. ISBN 9781432309367 / ISBN 978-1-43-230936-7

Spice Odyssey by Cariema Isaacs. From east to west, north to south, the routes and journeys travelled from shore to shore by slaves and explorers, travellers and traders, the story of spices emerged and the spice odyssey began.

[...] My first lessons as a child helping my grandmother cook were about finding that balance. She maintained that our senses are meant to be awakened by the subtle flavours, which become pronounced with every bite. Thus, at a very early age, I understood the tastes derived from cumin and coriander, the pungency of fennel, cloves and star anise, and the piquancy of chilli powder, cayenne pepper and masala blends. Though my time spent in the kitchen at that age was certainly more whimsical, it was only much later on in my life that I developed a consciousness and curiosity about spices and their uses. The health benefits derived from spices are the true treasures. For many years my own masala dabba (spice container) served only as a conduit to seasoning dishes. It wasn't until I found myself in India that I came to know that in Kerala, in the southern part of India, almost every other home has a homeopath who could easily conjure up a medicinal concoction to relieve your aches and pains. I discovered the true essence of the ancient science of Ayurveda, which represents a system of holistic healing and is known to be one of the oldest forms of medicine. I was in Mumbai when it became apparent to me that the home remedies my grandmother had given to me as a child when I was unwell - the warm saffron milk I drank at bedtime as a child, ushering me into a peaceful sleep; the concoction of turmeric and oil applied directly to the skin for my cuts and grazes; and the ginger-infused, honey tea given to me when my throat was sore - were not very different from the ones described and used by my friends in India. On a business trip to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, I decided to do a city tour before heading back to my home in Dubai, and happened upon a convention hall showcasing ancient Malay healing practices. I watched as the healers prepared their herbs and powders, a true art of the apothecaries which I was told dated as far back as the 6th century. Their potions and medicines were used to pacify the cries of colicky babies or relieve an agonizing migraine. I heard recitations from the holy scriptures of the Quran that sounded exactly the same as the ones I remember on a Thursday evening in Bo-Kaap - supplications to God seeking comfort and salvation. There was (and still is) an innate belief that herbal remedies must be accompanied by prayer in order for absolute healing to occur. You cannot have one without the other. On another trip to Sri Lanka, I was greeted by trees and shrubs with blossoms and blooms of spices in their freshest form, some still in their husks, not fully matured. Our guide narrated tales about the healing properties of all these spices and even the chef echoed the health benefits of the dishes we would be cooking during a cooking class in Galle (a city on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka). The focus, evidently, is that spices as flavouring agents are secondary to their core function, which is to heal the body, mollify the mind and still the soul. Spices weave their way into my kitchen and somehow my collection always seems to flourish regardless of the homes and locations I've lived in. [...]

This is an excerpt from Spice Odyssey, by Cariema Isaacs.

Title: Spice Odyssey
Author: Cariema Isaacs
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
Imprint: Lifestyle
Cape Town, South Africa 2019
ISBN 9781432309367 / ISBN 978-1-43-230936-7
EU-Import: Namibiana Buchdepot
Softcover, 22 x 26 cm, 192 pages, throughout colour photographs