National Herb and Spice Day- June 10

National Herbs and Spices Day falls on June 10 every year and celebrates the world of diversity when it comes to these often-teensy flavoring agents, which nevertheless pack a punch! After all, what would food even be if it weren’t for the herbs and spices that make every dish unique? Since herbs and spices are cooking essentials, it, therefore, makes complete sense that they are given a day of recognition for their contribution to mankind and its culinary journeys thus far. Furthermore, the great thing about many herbs is that they can be freshly grown in your own garden patch or on your kitchen sill, and what can be better than eating your own homegrown produce? There are just so many ways in which herbs and spices make all our lives better.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL HERBS AND SPICES DAY

Though very little is known about how this holiday came into being, National Herbs and Spices Days has been officially observed from the year 2015 onwards. Not only are herbs and spices of utmost importance in the kitchen, but many of them also have strong medicinal value, too, which is why such a day may have come into being. Before the words ‘national’ and ‘spices’ were added in 2015, the oldest reference to this holiday was ‘Herb Day’ in 1999.

One of the earliest fans of spices and herbs was Emperor Charlemagne (742–814 A.D.). He apparently felt so passionately about them that he put together a list of 74 different herbs and had them planted in his gardens. Don’t just take our word for it though, see what Emperor Charlemagne himself had to say: “Herbs are the friends of physicians and the praise of cooks.” By the Middle Ages, the use of herbs and spices in both cooking and medication became common. Books like “The Forme of Cury” (“The Method of Cooking”) began to emerge, which promoted the use of herbs extensively. Modern-day allopathy also has its roots in the mixing of various herbs and medicinal plants to cure common ailments.

NATIONAL HERBS AND SPICES DAY TIMELINE

3100 B.C.Early Humans Discover Flavorings

Early humans stumble upon the tasty benefits of combining meat with different leaves and berries.

1700 B.C.Spices Become Luxury Commodities

During King Solomon’s reign, the Queen of Sheba offers him gold, gemstones, and spices as a fitting tribute.

1596 B.C.First Book on Herbs is Published

Chinese author Li Shih Chen publishes “Pen Ts’ao Kang Mu,” a Chinese herbal book mentioning over 1,000 medicinal plants.

1200sSpices and Herbs Become Commercial

Thanks to Marco Polo and other explorers, spices, and herbs begin to be traded worldwide as commodities.

1500sSpices Reach North America

Thanks to Columbus and colonialism, European spices and indigenous American spices become popular in North America.