Welcome To The World of Spice

It would not be an exaggeration to state that spices (and herbs) shaped the world we live in today. Spices were once worth their weight in gold, and due to the sheer demand of spices in the West during the age of discovery, the old world became the new world and the course of history was dramatically changed forever in no less than two hundred to three hundred years. All thanks to these little hardy plants who were just trying to protect themselves. It is worth noting that other plants played a vital role in the reshaping of the world, notably tea, coffee, sugar, rubber, tobacco and hemp. But none of them caused quite as much change as spice.  

The importance of spices are recorded in ancient Sumerian and Egyptian texts which date back some 5000 and 4000 years respectively, but we don’t need to go quite so far back to understand more about this diverse range of plants. When considering how spice changed the world. It is worth noting that when they originally arrived by boat or caravan from the East, they brought with them their own invisible cargo, a Pandora’s box of culture, history, customs and meaning. This to some, was as dangerous as it was exciting, much like the deadly sting of capsaicin or the sweet aroma of anethole, the active compound in star anise. 

What is a spice?

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 Spices usually come from aromatic dried roots, seeds, buds, bark, berries and other fruits of a plant (separate to herbs which are the leafy parts of a plant) and on a chemical and biological level, spices are used as part of a plants defence mechanism. Interestingly, the word ‘spice’ comes from the latin ‘species’ which means ‘specific kind’, which explains much about the role of these compounds which make up a plants ‘spice’.

Technically a spice is defined as one or more of various strongly flavoured or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, obtained from tropical plants, commonly used as additions to enhance or modify food and also in high quality cosmetics.

Simply put, spices, also known as secondary compounds, are the parts of a plant that are more densely loaded with flavour, aroma and preservative qualities than other parts. Chemically speaking the qualities that make a spice a spice, are its rare essential oils, volatile compounds, phytochemical / phytonutrient structures and polyphenol rich storehouses of flavour and health. Yes, spices are universes within themselves

Chemical Warfair in Nature

Warfare in the plant kingdom is a complex ecosystem of survival and evolution and is the key defense mechanism of all plants. If plants (specifically those we use for spices) had the ability to walk, we would be in trouble. 

Over the course of millenia, plants have equipped themselves with highly dangerous weaponry, in the form of volatile compounds (VOCs), essential oils, phytochemicals and many more. These are secondary compounds, so called because they are secondary to the plants metabolism, which is to say they play no role in photosynthesis or the uptake of nutrients. A good example of one of these defense chemicals is that of allicin, which is found in many spices but notably garlic. Garlic’s pungency derives mainly from its sulphur containing flavour compounds that include allicin, limonene and sabinene, which are all used as part of garlic’s defence systems. We will cover each individual spice and herb throughout our journal section.

Journey Into Taste

At Millstone, we like to think we are working with nature as opposed to destroying it, this is why we opt for organic practices throughout our product range as well as opt for environmentally sound packaging. Both of these choices also lead us to our mission, which is to journey into taste and excite all senses. We see ‘taste’ as an all encompassing system, from the literal taste sensation of our spices, herbs and salts, to the tasteful aesthetic of our visual design and packaging, to the way we carry ourselves through the world, we see them all as a tightly woven interconnected system, just like the gardens and farms we grow our produce in.

However, in an article about the world of spice, we must talk about taste sensations we receive when we consume said produce. 

Taste was one of the many attractions humans had towards spices, from as far back as 5000 years BC, spices were used to make the unpalatable, palatable. We were, and still are, attracted by plants that smelt sweet and were brightly coloured, it was these factors that satisfied our search for easily absorbed energy and our curious nature respectively. 

 

Chemical Stores

As previously mentioned, plants store defensive chemicals known as flavour compounds also known as phytochemicals deep within their seeds, roots, fruits, barks, stems and flowers, what we extract from these storehouses we call spices. It is these flavour compounds and chemicals that are so dangerous to other members of the animal kingdom, but for humans, mostly, it is what we find attractive and often irresistible. 

Flavour Stores

Most flavour compounds of spices are stored in tiny oil bubbles deep with a spices structure, and only released when the plant is damaged or under threat from the outside world. These compounds usually come in the form of volatiles, or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), these are chemicals that evaporate in the air from liquids or solids. It is these volatile compounds that give spices their pungency and unique flavour. They are some of the most delicate molecules known to man, learning to harvest and cook with them is a skill in itself. Think of pinene in juniper, citronellal in lemongrass, capsaicin in chilli and cuminaldehyde in cumin, to name a few.

SPICE FAQ

What is a spice?

A spice is a specific part of a plant, usually the seeds, bark, roots, berries, flower or stems. It is these areas where the plants store their defence chemicals, or what we would call phytochemicals, phytonutrients and volatile compounds. It is the aforementioned that we are most particularly interested in for health and taste properties.

Why should I use spice?

Spices (and herbs) are essential as part of a healthy balanced diet in a world where eating well is becoming increasingly more difficult. They are a great way to introduce a steady flow of micronutrients into our bodies, which are essential for optimal living, helping with energy levels, mood regulation and allround wellness. Spices are also crucial in turning bland food into works of art, reducing the need for fat, sugar and salt overall.

The Gut Microbiome and Spice?

The gut is one of the most important organs we have, on par with the brain, some even say the gut is the second brain. The gut microbiome is an intensely dense ecosystem of over 100 trillion microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, and each and every one of them has a job to do. We like to think of the gut microbiome as the garden of the body, it’s where nutrients, minerals and phytonutrients (some 10,000+) are extracted, sorted and put to work. Spices are a perfect vehicle to get these essential nutrients and minerals into your gut on a regular basis and the cleaner and fresher they are the better.

Why Millstone Spice?

Our sourcing philosophy at Millstone is simple. Certified organic and a seed to shelf of no more than three months (it is not uncommon to buy two year seed to shelf spices and herbs from larger suppliers). A short seed to shelf life means spices and herbs that are pungent with aroma and transformative health properties, which as we have mentioned, is absolutely essential to your gut microbiome. 

Millstone also believes in telling the stories of our farmers and our customers, we are simply a gateway between the two.  

Journey Into Health

At Millstone, we want to look beyond food as a tool for weight loss or weight gain, and instead think about food (and spices) for our health in the broadest sense: our individual health, the health of our societies and the health of our planet as a whole. We believe that ‘health’ is not just derived from eating ‘organic’, ‘fresh’ or ‘varied’ and certainly not from sugar loaded gummy bears, Health with a capital H is a complex system of choices we make on a daily basis. Health is a mindset, a commitment and a journey full of good intentions, it is not a one time purchase we make for instant transformation. 

Three methods we employ to ensure our herbs (and spices) are loaded with good intentions are:

  1. Organic certified produce from happy motivated farms.
  2. Produce from single origin farms only.
  3. A seed to shelf of just three months. 

What this means is healthier, tastier and more appealing spices. By working to our three point framework mentioned above, we can ensure our organic spices offer the very best in nutriuent availability.

Health is not static

As we navigate the often unpredictable human experience, the requirements to maintain health change like the wind. Food is just one of the vehicles we can use to build, grow and maintain our health, on both a personal and global level. One of our core principles is Health. When we developed Millstone, we did so with Health in mind and wanted our spices, herbs and salts to be transformative in every sense. 

Spices and the Gut Microbiome

The human gut is one of the most overlooked organs in the body. Known as the second brain, it houses over 100 trillion microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, and fungi — that's more microbes than human cells in your entire body. As well as over 100 million neurons, often referred to as the "enteric nervous system", it is linked to the brain via the vagus nerves which send hormone responses back and forth. It can operate independently of the brain and plays a key role in digestion and mood regulation. Over 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, where it interacts with the gut microbiome to protect the body from pathogens, as well as being the main activity centre where nutrients, minerals and phytochemicals are extracted, sorted and released into the body. 

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Why the Gut Microbiome Needs Spices , Herbs + Salts

The gut microbiome does not specifically need spices, herbs and salts per se, but what it does need is a continuous and healthy dose of nutrients, minerals and it particularly likes phytonutrients, aka phytochemicals. There are over 10,000 known phytonutrients and the vast majority of them are still lacking in thorough research. In their original form, phytonutrients help keep plants healthy and protect them from bugs, fungi and other environmental threats. But what do they do in your body? At the most fundamental level, phytonutrients help protect our bodies from disease and keep all metabolic and cognitive functions in operation, as well as provide our bodies with anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits. They are essentially foods for the good guys keeping us alive and healthy. Some of the more well known phytonutrients include carotenoids, flavonoids, phytoestrogens, glucosinolates and ellagic acid, just five of the other 10,000 we know of. 

So where do spices come into all of this? Millstone prides itself on a three month seed to shelf production, essentially what this means is that our spices, herbs and salts are potent with phytonutrients, polyphenols and important volatile compounds that your gut loves. And to add to that, our products are all certified organic, which means no extra work for your body to fight off pesticides, insecticides and herbicides. Spices count towards your five a day and your thirty a day mix, our spice blends in particular are an excellent way to treat your gut to a nourishing meal.

Spices in the Modern World

And now we come full circle to the present day. The age of discovery is over, to our knowledge, the vast majority of spices and herbs have been discovered and they are available in abundance, never have they been so cheap and so readily available. But this abundance comes at a cost. Quality. 

Millstone was founded to address the issue of quality in the world of spices, herbs and salts. Our mission is to journey into taste and excite all senses, and our principles that guide us are; Taste, Health, Design and Culture. The term ‘quality’ can and will be applied to all of our principles. 

There really are no shortcuts to quality. 

Taste - We watch our crops grow on organic farms in natural environments. 

Health - Our crops are free from chemical fertilisers and dense with essential nutrients and minerals. 

Design - Our design aesthetic and packaging inspires and motivates. 

Culture - We travel the world to learn about other cultures, sharing our journey with you as we go.

Millstone is committed to fulfilling its mission and delivering on its promise of taste, health, design and culture. We are excited to show you our world of spices, herbs and salts.

Come with us as we journey into taste.

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