Lime

Limes are the very tart relatives of lemons. Crusaders brought them to southern Europe in the Middle Ages, and in addition to abundant vitamin C, they contain numerous valuable minerals and trace elements.

Mint

First discovered in 1696 and likely the result of a chance cross between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata, it is now one of the most important medicinal plants in the world. Peppermint has a slightly pungent taste and is popular worldwide for its refreshing aroma and valuable components. In 2004, it was chosen as the medicinal plant of the year.

Cardamom

Cardamom has been one of the most popular spices throughout Asia and the Arab world for thousands of years. Its delicate, spicy-sweet aroma leads to the use of cardamom in numerous dishes, from spicy curries to spiced Christmas sweets. Thanks to its essential oils and other important nutrients, cardamom is also one of the oldest medicinal plants in the world.

Turmeric

Turmeric is an ancient medicinal plant that flourishes especially in South Asia and the Mediterranean area. It belongs to the ginger family and is one of the main components of curry powder. In India, turmeric, similar to ginger and slightly spicy, has been one of the most important spices for over 5,000 years and, due to its healing power, was even considered sacred.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is one of the most expensive spices in the world and must have been used in China as early as 3,000 BC as a spice and medicinal plant. Cinnamon is obtained from the bark of the South Asian cinnamon tree, has an aromatic sweet taste and contains numerous tannins and beneficial essential oils.

Black Pepper

Black pepper, also known as the "queen of spices," is currently, along with salt, the most important spice in the world. It originally comes from the Malabar Coast in India and has an intense spicy taste, with varying degrees of pungency. Ancient Ayurvedic medicine recommends black pepper not only as a condiment, but also, due to its valuable substances, as a medicinal plant.