Sorry, I thought this was cute, dorky, and well I liked Dune . . .
It’s a spice party in the USA. This NPR article talks about how America’s changing demographics has created a nation that consumes a massive amount of spices. In fact, the consumption rate of spices in America has grown three times as fast as the population.
The USDA reports from the 1970s that America has consumed 600 percent more chili pepper, 300 percent more cumin, and 1,600 percent more ginger. That is a lot ginger . . . does that consumption amount include that pink ginger they add in sushi packs? Because I know for sure I don’t eat it.
Anyway, it is probably part my growth as a foodie, but I do like the ability to go to a lot of restaurants and ask for a variety of spices and condinments that may be 20 years ago only carried steak sauce of ketchup.
So what are some of your favorite spices? I for one love them all, and could not imagine a world without spices. The Spice Must Flow.
Btw, I highly recommend reading this book if you are interested with the hisotrical aspect of spice in the world.
The Honolulu Grub Club Blog 