Question

In the medieval period, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, etc were spices that grew in the ______ climate.
A) Tropical
B) Subtropical
C) Temperate
D) Polar

Answer 1

Hint: A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other substance of a plant more importantly used for flavouring or colouring food. Spices are different from herbs as they are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavouring or as a garnish.

Complete answer:
The towns on the west coast were home to Arab, Persian, Chinese, Jewish and Syrian Christian merchants. Indian flavours and material sold in the Red Sea ports were bought by Italian merchants and in the long run arrived at European business sectors, getting high benefits.

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Tropical: This option is correct as clove, kokum, galangal, small cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and ginger are the tropical spices. Spices like pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, etc, grown in tropical climates became a major part of European cooking which eventually drew European traders to India. Hence, the given option is the right answer.

Option B) Subtropical: This option is incorrect as clove, kokum, galangal, small cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and ginger are the tropical spices. While cumin, fennel, coriander, fenugreek, onion and garlic are the sub-tropical spices grown in winter. Hence, the given option is wrong.

Option C) Temperate: This option is incorrect as clove, kokum, galangal, small cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and ginger are tropical spices. Whereas the spices grown in temperate regions are thymes, saffron, Savoy, caraway seed and asafetida. Hence, the given option is wrong.

Option D) Polar: This option is incorrect as clove, kokum, galangal, small cardamom, turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and ginger are tropical spices. While the polar climatic regions only have flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens, but not any spices. Hence, the given option is wrong.

So, Tropical is the correct answer. In the medieval period, pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried ginger, etc were spices that grew in the tropical climate.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘A.

Note: The features of spices are:
- They are also used in medication, religious ceremonies, cosmetics or perfume creation.
- Spices are essentially utilized as a food seasoning.
- They are likewise used to fragrance cosmetics and incense.
- At different periods, numerous spices have been accepted to have medicinal worth.
- Finally, since they are costly, rare, and exotic commodities, their obvious utilization has regularly been an image of wealth and social class.
- A spice might be accessible in a few structures: fresh, entirely dried, or pre-ground dried. For the most part, spices are dried. Spices might be ground into a powder for convenience.