Spice trade

The spice trade has been of major economic importance throughout human history and it particularly helped spur the Age of Exploration. The word spice derives from the Latin 'species', which in its later history came to mean goods or products, often of small volume and high value http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1291548,00.html. Spices brought to Europe from distant lands were some of the most valuable commodities for their weight, sometimes rivaling gold.

Production

As of the early 2000s, saffron is the world's most expensive spice (and in fact, the most expensive food by weight). Spain, India, and Iran are producers of saffron. A pound (1/2 kg) of saffron requires about 35,000–100,000 flowers.

Related Topics:
As of - Saffron

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The table below shows total global spice production in 2004:

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