What spices did Marco Polo introduce into Italy?
Rumour is he brought back pasta, but they were making it years before, from China at that time cinnimon, cloves, anise or fennel seed, pepper and sesame seeds. The Roman Empire did spread it self across a vastarea and the Middle East had some of the same spices, but the varietys of seed and other spices were almost already known, he may have brought back the plants for hybridization. I am a former chef and have done research for a party I did around the ancient roman toga party, I did research a number of foods and dishes for this party, and it would surprise you the ingredients they had back then and that was 400-500 yrs before Marco Polos time.
