Episodes The Spice Trail

1 episodes

1.1 episode one: pepper , cinnamon
1.2 episode two: nutmeg , cloves
1.3 episode three: vanilla , saffron

episodes
episode one: pepper , cinnamon

in first half visit india @ pepper , find out black pepper corns traditionally sun dried. told white pepper soaked , de-husked make milder. green pepper mentioned not explained , red not mentioned @ all. see how corns removed being trodden on , massaged bare feet. see devastation fungal disease has brought once primary area of production. see silent , secret negotiation language of buyers , sellers use hands under cloth negotiate without need spoken language (a kind of tactile signing).

in second half see small cinnamon trees being cut in sri lanka. outer bark scraped hand , inner bark removed knife. best parts used create outer sheaf , other parts placed within. these outer sheaves joined each other , overlap create standard length stick or rod known quill. sticks rolled daily dry , tied bundles trading , transport.

episode two: nutmeg , cloves

in programme visit spice islands in indonesia, original home of these 2 spices. in first half @ nutmeg , discover has many layers. there outer fruit used jam. when ripe fruit opens revealing red nut , best time pick told. in program see examples of fruit being cut open when has been picked early. see outer red skin of nut being removed , dried create mace. inner skin or black shell of nut removed , discarded , left hard brown nut call nutmeg. find out almond trees important shade , species of dove responsible planting of almonds trees , nutmeg trees.

the second half of programme looks @ cloves. introduced pink flower buds on tall trees , told best cloves pink , not yet opened. mixture of long poles, rope pulling , tree climbing used pickers can collect clusters of buds on trees. on ground individual cloves snapped off bud cluster , sun dried in streets. rest of bud cluster (stalks , few small young leaves) used additive tobacco, , see kate attempting, after effort, make herbal cigarette.

episode three: vanilla , saffron

in first half programme looks @ saffron. visit berbers of morocco, origin of saffron see purple crocus flowers growing in looks desert. fields irrigated water channels dug ground , sheep dung carried water fertilize @ same time. harvest lasts no more month , flowers picked every morning. each bulb produces 4 flowers each season. during day, stamens removed , social event picking involves in village. stamens dried. told red best , deeper red better saffron. handling flowers gives people purple fingers , people in area generous saffron using in drinks , wide range of cuisine.

the programme moves spain suitable saffron became saffron capital of world after being conquered muslims. told saffron on world brought there , traded. saffron being expensive diluted other spices (such turmeric), stamens other plants or species , plastic , other contaminants. got visit 1 of laboratories dna testing , spectrum analysis seeks maintain high quality of saffron , protect fraud , impurities devalue genuine product.

in second half of program discover vanilla mexican spice. pollination performed melipona bee native mexico , find not possible grow vanilla elsewhere in world until slave boy discovered how self-pollinate plants. once artificial pollination discovered price collapsed , vanilla trade in mexico reduced compared used be. told vanilla orchid vine. see vanilla flower being self-pollinated , told open few hours. takes 9 months pods develop , 9 months them dry , cure. best pods have crystals on them.