From 3500 BC the ancient Egyptians used various spices to flavor their food. Historically, spices and herbs have been used as food preservatives as well as to improve health. Papyri from ancient Egypt of 1555 BC classified coriander, fennel, juniper, cumin, garlic and thyme as spices that are good for health. Records of the time also note that the workers who built the Great Pyramid of Cheops consumed onions and garlic for better stamina and health.
In ancient Greece as well, they were used for medicinal purposes besides food. Hippocrates also posited the well-known saying “Let your medicine be your food and your food be your medicine”.
Nowadays, the whole modern world considers them an integral part of their kitchen, as more and more people are interested in their therapeutic purposes since research supports the correctness of the practices of our ancestors.