SPICEography

Arrowroot is a name given to the Maranta arundinacea plant, but the term has been expanded to include cassava and other plants in recent years.

There is evidence of arrowroot cultivation going back 7,000 years. According to folklore, the name is said to have originated from Maranta arundinacea’s use as a treatment for the inflammation of wounds caused by poisoned arrows. It is also said to come from the Arawak Indians’ name for the plant, which was aru aru. Arrowroot was used by slicing it and applying the slices to the wounds.

It is believed that the arrowroot was brought to the Caribbean islands by Native Americans from South America at some point prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus.

Read more

The tamarind name comes from the Arabic term tamar hindi, which means Indian date. The leguminous tamarind tree is believed to originate in Africa but has been heavily cultivated in India since antiquity. It is likely that it was brought to the subcontinent by Arabian traders. In Africa, it grows wild in Nigeria as well as in Cameroon and other countries.

Historical documents show that tamarind was cultivated in Egypt as early as 400 BC and was known to the Greeks in this time period as well.

Tamarind was introduced to Mexico and to South America in the 16th century; the documentation suggests that it was brought to Acapulco from Asia by the Spanish. Today, you can find tamarind throughout South America and the Caribbean. Tamarind trees can also be found in Hawaii, where one of the first trees was first planted in 1797. It is a staple ingredient in Mexican cuisine and is used to a lesser extent in the West Indies. Mexico has over 10,000 acres dedicated to tamarind cultivation.

Read more

Mango is indigenous to India, Burma, and Malaysia and is documented as one of the oldest cultivated fruits in the world. There is evidence of its cultivation going back 4,000 years. As a result of European colonization starting around the 16th century, mango has spread to many different regions. As a result of the colonist’s efforts, you can find mango growing throughout Africa and the Americas.

Dried and powdered mango is used as a spice and is also called amchur, which is sometimes spelled amchoor. Am means mango and chur or choor means powder. Mango powder is made by first sun-drying unripe mangoes and then grinding them into powder. Mango powder is ancient with a history that stretches back into antiquity, much like the other uses of the mango fruit.

Read more