How cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger became the scents of winter holidays, far from their tropical origins

By: Serina DeSalvio, Texas A&M University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 7, 2025

Words: 1,098

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 3 days ago

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Regardless of how you celebrate end-of-year holidays, food is probably central to your winter festivities. And a trio of spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger – feature in many dishes and drinks and are an unmistakable part of the scent profile we associate with the holiday season.

As a plant scientist, I was curious to know how these spices, grown in the tropics, became so closely associated with the Northern Hemisphere’s winter holidays. …

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