Cardamom

Like all seductive perfumes, it is best used sparingly.

Hailed in its native India as ‘queen of spices’, its use dates back to the fourth century BC. Its popularity spread and more than two millennia ago the pods joined shipments of ivory, gemstones, monkeys and peacocks bound for Greece and Rome. Cardamom plants were said to grow in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ancient Egyptians chewed on the seeds as a breath freshener and Vikings held the festival of cakes in honour of this, their favourite spice. The Vikings came upon cardamom in Constantinople and took it to Scandinavia, where it remains loved to this day. Bedouin and other Arabian cultures also hold it in high esteem and it features as an aphrodisiac in the tales of the Arabian Nights. Before a traditional wedding in Iran, the bride is given items including cardamom seeds, rose water and sugar cones - a perfect combination.