Spices - aromatic, subtle, pungent and fiery - every country has typical spice mixes that epitomize its cooking. They warm the soul, provide passion and interest to otherwise-bland food, and headily scent the air in restaurants and home kitchens.

Try them in recipes from the Americas, the home of chilli, that fiery king of spices, where you'll also find American Apple pie with delicate autumnal spicing and Cajun spiced corn and bacon chowder.

From Europe, where powerful spice empires once ruled, come spice classics such as Plum Chutney (via the British in India) and Scandinavian wine mulled wine.

African and The Middle East were the earliest entrepots for incense and spices. Recipes include spicy Prawn Piri Piri from South Africa and Moroccan Grilled Fish with verdant chermoula spice paste.

From South Asia, veritable spice haven and Manisha's spiritual home, come dishes such as spicy coconut prawns from kerala, or almond and cardamom lamb.

East Asia reveals a love of ginger and sesame and an understated use of spices in recipes like Sushi and Chinese red-cooked Chicken with star anise.

South-East Asian is a fiery riot of spic dishes - from Thai green curry to peppery Vietnamese salad.

All this plus collections of typical spice mixes from every continent, a directory of spices and a listing of mail order sources and useful websites. Also included are fascinating tales of the great chilli migration, the spice empires of the Romans and Venetians, the romance of the silk road, the Indian Spice Trade, and the heart-breaking story of the spice islands - all milestones along the road to the way we eat now.

From the familiar to alluringly exotic, Spices gives you recipes to scent your home, delight your palate and beguile your friends.

ABOUT MANISHA GAMBHIR HARKINS

Manisha Gambhir Harkins was born in Mumbai to a family from South India, a region where spices like asafoetida, tamarind and cardamom are indispensable to life. Since the earliest overland and sea spice routes led to India, it is not surprise that spices are in Manisha's blood!

Manisha has been the features editor of 'The Master's Table' magazine for several years and won the Guild of Food Writers' Award for Food Journalist of the Year 1999. She writes for magazines and newspapers and has appeared on BBC Radio and Carlton Food Network.

Manisha grew up in New Jersey, went to University in Massachusetts, and has lived in Boston, Germany and Saudi Arabia (where she discovered even more unusual spices). For the past eight years, Manisha has lived in Wales with her Scottish husband. She loves travelling and learning about regional foods and their provenance, both in Britain and abroad.

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