How Cinnamon, Nutmeg And Ginger Became The Scents Of Winter Holidays, Far From Their Tropical Origins

mix-of-spices
(Credit: Almaje/iStock via Getty Images) Nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon and other gingerbread spices.

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Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season.

As a plant scientist, I was curious to know how these spices, grown in the tropics, became so closely associated with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter holidays. Just as cranberries’ fall harvest makes them a natural choice for Thanksgiving, I thought that perhaps the seasonality of spice harvest had something to do with their use during the winter months.

However, this doesn’t appear to be the case. When it comes to growing spices, producers are playing the long game.

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