The penchant for possessing the world’s most luxurious spices, commercialised by East Indian Trading companies in the 1600’s, has shifted from high sea endeavours, the fascination of faraway lands, and struggles for ‘spice stock market supremacy’, into a mainstream malaise of mass-produced spice packets and tea bags of all varieties. Despite the swipe and pay ease of availability, the historical racketeering and skulduggery associated with trading spice routes, and the smuggling of the ‘illicit’, remains an allure embedded in history books, block buster movies, and the human psyche.
The long running TV program Border Security was staple Sunday night viewing in our household, so I’m ‘well versed’ in the tips and tricks of substance smuggling across the Australian border. The modern-day, elaborate, and intricate trading routes of the ‘exotic’ extending to our airports in all manner of storage containers, plastic bags, and hidden compartments.
So, I was impressed when our German friends recently arriving from an earlier stop in Sri Lanka, innocently presented us with a 60cm stick of Ceylon cinnamon pulled from their duffle bag as a thank you for their stay. While travelling light, their luggage carried the weighty gift of a spice once considered as valuable as ivory or gold, akin to the expression of our 30-year friendship. More precious than the cargo of the shipwrecked East Indies’ Batavia.
The word “spice” derives from the Latin species, or ‘special wares’. From as early as 2000 BC, miles were trodden, seas sailed, wars waged, nations pillaged or profiting, in the battle to secure air purifying, prayer carrying, miracle invoking, medicinally healing, and gastronomic stimulating ingredients of unique value.
For spice buffs, cinnamon was, and still is, a chart topper. (Heaven forbid that’s NOT a Spice Girls reference!) A special ware with antioxidant levels that give it a winning ability to fight off free radicals and protect from disease. Lauding the plant’s therapeutic properties for thousands of years, cinnamon is an Ayurveda and natural therapist’s all-star. Wrapped in the inner bark of the cinnamon tree lie remedies for reduced inflammation markers, heart-healthy compounds, blood sugar busters, fresh breath, and relief from the tyranny of tooth decay.
The link between cinnamon and friendship is as sweet and nice as all things spice. Consuming as little as 1/10 of a teaspoon each day may be sufficient to reap the rewards. Adding it to your diet can be easy. Enjoy it strong, sweet, regularly, and consistently. Sprinkle it on anything and everything, always. Whether aged or fresh its power is potent, it’s impact profound. Pure or mixed the high notes are addictive. Origin isn’t important, it’s intent deliberate. Liberally applied it’s an award-winning ingredient for any recipe of the ages; heart-warming, soul-strengthening, joy-producing, spirit-mending, life-giving.
Unlike prohibited substances, friendship doesn’t show up on an immigration control radar. It’s declared loudly on greeting cards not customs arrival cards. Its disclosure creating a sense of joy and peace, not foreboding, trepidation or shame. Friendship is wrapped in shared stories, support, and appreciation; not cling wrap, aluminium foil, Tupperware, or random car parts. The hallmarks don’t expressively show up on an X-ray or body scan. You’ll find them in smiles, tears and laughter, in hugs and hand holding. They’re displayed in albums, on Instagram, Facebook and greasily pasted to fridges. Drawn from all corners of the earth, this bonafide, customised, and legal substance enters the ‘heartstream’ quietly and confidently. Healing, nourishing, celebrating, growing, transfusing, and transforming.
Dipped, steeped, mixed, or mashed, wrapped, wrinkled, or squashed, it’s a ship worth sailing the seas for. Go ahead and declare it.
Very spicy!!!,
Well you do like your cinnamon too 🙂
YAY for friendship! Love you longtime my forever friend.
Yes, Yay! Thank you my forever friend 🙂
What a lovely read here in my hospital bed. I remember having my dearest girlfriend Ronelle’s daughter and her lovely feral friend , in a good way, staying with us 40 years ago.
They were a delight, and when left secreted about 20 painted little messages anywhere in our house.
Found one 2 days ago, thanking us ex ex ex. That was very special, especially since my girlfriend’ s daughter was killed in a car accident 1 year later.
I stayed over in Perth, helped my friend and partner who hammered a coffin, while I lined it with velvet leaves. Beautiful experience.
What a wonderful story Marijke. We can be touched in so many ways. Lovely that you even found a message of thanks so recently. It stays in your head and your heart!
Just love reading your articles. Great pleasure and joy in everything that you publish. Spice of Life.
Thank you Pam! I’m glad it can bring you joy. Just like you bring joy to so many too!
Wat een waar en prachtig verhaal!
Dank je wel love. Xxxxx
Thank you:)
Yes, I love cinnamon. Also a subject close to dad’s heart: the history of East Indies trade routes and the Batavia. Also uncle John’s! 😁
This is true!