Chapter 167 "Spice"

The "spice" itself has a very distinctive and pungent smell, but that's not why it's called that.

The meaning of "fragrance" does not mean that everyone smells the same fragrance, but that the spice has a unique smell. If used on food or textiles such as silk, it can prevent corrosion and repel insects.

It is precisely because of this positive significance that is very positively correlated with production and life that, even if the smell is pungent, or even if some people will sneeze or squint their eyes when they smell it, it is still called a "fragrant" ingredient.

Similarly, "spices" are also a well-known "local specialty" of China with a long history on the earth.

Because the West did not know how to use these at that time, when the Silk Road brought spices from the East to the West, it greatly increased the shelf life of food and instantly became a hot commodity in the market. It was hyped up like silk and only the nobility could afford it.

Many people only know about silk and porcelain from the East, but they don’t know that tea and spices were also very precious goods on the Silk Road back then.

It’s just that these operations are just “sprinkling water” for the Chinese people, just like the fishing techniques that have been passed down for thousands of years. They are used in daily life and seem not worth mentioning at all.

"These can remove fishy smells, these can enhance freshness, these have a light numb taste, and this one can enhance fragrance..." Xia Tian introduced some of the spices that she had found at hand one by one.

In addition to the common "onions", "ginger" and "garlic", there are also "peppercorns" and "star anise". Apart from the same taste, their sizes, colors and shapes are very different.

Ye followed and memorized carefully like a primary school student, and asked some questions from time to time, which Xia Tian answered one by one.

Finally, she took out a round brown fruit, cracked the shell to reveal the petal-shaped flesh inside, and showed it to him. "I call this a chili pepper. It hurts when you eat it. The experience is... quite strange. Since you're still recovering, I won't give it to you."

The round fruit is about the size of a palm, with a smooth and hard shell, somewhat similar to the passion fruit on Earth.

The flesh inside is in segments, a bit like an orange.

Xia Tian accidentally picked up this fruit while going out again. The strong spiciness made her confirm that this should be the "chili pepper" in this world.

She loves spicy food, so the moment she found the chili peppers, she was filled with ecstasy.

It’s just that the people in this world seem to have never eaten chili peppers. Considering Si Ye’s tolerance and the fact that Ye is still in the recovery period and should have a light diet, he has never found an opportunity to use it.

However, a meal without spiciness would be soulless.

Spicy hot pot, spicy barbecue, Maoxuewang, stir-fried meat, spicy grilled fish...

Tsk, I really can’t think about it!

But for those who have never eaten spicy food, or have never been exposed to spicy taste, chili peppers are real oral pain, which does not bring any pleasant feeling. Instead, they will feel it is a torture.

Ye was one of them. "Xia Xia, you just said that the taste of this chili pepper is...pain? If it hurts your mouth when you eat it, why do you still eat it?"

Spices are added to enhance the flavor. Although the taste is a bit pungent during the frying process, the final result is acceptable.

But what's the point of this seasoning that causes pain when eaten?

By the way, do you like spicy food?

(End of this chapter)