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| Summer Garden 2011, Summer Spice |
This summer’s display in the Exhibition Bed takes the form of an exotic Spice Garden, focused on spice plants of importance to southern Indian cuisine. People have used spices in cooking for millennia, but they are also important far beyond the kitchen. In the Ayurvedic tradition spices such as turmeric, tamarind, black pepper, mustard, clove, ginger and fenugreek are highly valued as medicines. Capsaicin derived from chillies can be applied for pain relief, while ginger has long been used as an aid to digestion. Some spices are used as antibiotics and preservatives, others find their way into perfumes, dyes and liqueurs, and household items such as cleaning products.
Most spice plants are of tropical origin, and spice production is largely confined to that region. The countries of the Indian subcontinent have the lion’s share of production; other major producers include China and Indonesia.
Special Spice Event Bank Holiday Weekend
28 & 29 Aug - Noon to 6pm
With cooking demonstrations, storytelling, talks, trails and tours including tours by special guest James Wong (Mon only) and Tangerine Dream Café will feature a delicious Indian influenced menu.
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| The Spice Garden Trail |
