Fragrant Spices

Fragrant spices, valued for their sweet flavor, are used extensively in Middle Eastern, north African and Indian cooking. In medieval Europe, spices symbolized prosperity, providing an economic incentive for exploration of the globe. Today, in the West, there are two levels of cooking with fragrant spices: the dishes that feature in northern Europe, which are mainly sweet or pickled, and the more fashionable savory dishes that look to modern Asian styles.