Spice Apothecary by Bevin Clare

Spice Apothecary by Bevin Clare ISBN-13: 9781635860832 Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC Released: June 9th 2020

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
In Spice Apothecary, author Bevin Clare combines her training in herbalism and nutrition to guide readers in a return to the kitchen spice cabinet for better health and healing. Focusing on 19 common culinary spices that are easy to source and prized for their flavour, this practical guide highlights the health benefits of each spice for supporting wellness goals, with information on the best preparation for medicinal benefit, storage recommendations, and daily dosage guidelines. To bolster the immune system, chilli, garlic, ginger, and mustard are best. Kidney health is supported by celery seed, parsley, and sage, while the respiratory system benefits most from ginger, mint, and thyme.

Formulas for dried spice blends that amplify the effectiveness of individual flowers, roots, leaves, and seeds accompany recipes for delicious dips, soups, sauces, and even sweets that deliver flavour and healing. This approachable exploration of the world of spices puts at everyone’s fingertips new creative and impactful ways to incorporate key health-boosting spices into everyday life.


My Review:
Spice Apothecary is a book about how you can use common cooking spices to help improve your health. The author started by talking about the history of spices and where they come from – both what countries they come from and the part of the plant the spice is from. She talked about using spices and details about each spice, including how much a reasonable daily dose would be to get the medicinal effects. Then she talked about common health conditions (heart health, good digestion, etc.) and pointed out which spices would be good for that condition. Finally, she included some spice blends and recipes. I thought she did a good job of explaining the basics of using spices as medicine. Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in using common herbs and spices as medicine.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.