The Power of Desire: A Short History of Asian Spices
By Thomas J. Lemieux
Fortunes were made and lost on Asian spices, notably cinnamon and nutmeg. Manhattan Island (New Amsterdam), perhaps now one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the world, was traded away by the Dutch in a spice deal. Venezia became rich on Asian spices, notably black pepper. The condiments which now so commonly flavor our many basic and ethnic dishes were once rare enough that many were willing to risk their lives and livelihoods for a piece of the fortune.
Tom Lemieux is manager of the greenhouses for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at CU Boulder. Tom used to teach courses in horticulture and in economic botany but now spends his time trying to grow strange and wonderful members of the plant kingdom.
Thursday, February 21, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Denver Botanic Gardens - Morrison Center