Americans Love Spices. So Why Don't We Grow Them?
Buying local fruit, vegetables, and meat has become increasingly popular in the United States, but we still import most of our spices. Some say homegrown spices are a growth opportunity for farmers.
Nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves are probably ramping up in importance in your spice cabinet right about now — the classic flavors of the winter season. But, while you might be shopping for local ingredients for your favorite recipes for eggnog or maple-glazed ham, the odds are that the spices you're using were imported from the other side of the world.
Lior Lev Sercarz thinks spices should be local, too.
As owner of La Boite, a spice store in Manhattan that creates blends for chefs and home cooks, Lev Sercarz travels far and wide in search of the best spices. "Spices tell the story of the world," he says.
