The Spices of Europe

Europe's impoverished state is, paradoxically, a large part of the reason why European travellers explored and the West eventually came to dominate the world. Whenever anyone suggests an Asian adventurer coming to the West, the objection is always the fact that Europe simply had nothing to offer the Orient for so much of it's history.

Now, this might be delving into somewhat alt-biological territory but I think it's kosher. Is it possible to postulate something, a herb or drug or medicine, incense or what-have-you, that can only be found in a northern part of Europe? Something to match the spices of the Orient or the silk of China? What sort of thing could possibly match it?

And, if such a good did indeed exist, what effect would it have on the history of global trade?
 
the spice that comes to mind is juniper. if you could find a way to incorporate that into far eastern cuisine you could get the effect you're after
 
Something to match the spices of the Orient or the silk of China? What sort of thing could possibly match it?

And, if such a good did indeed exist, what effect would it have on the history of global trade?

If you're looking for something to be found which would actually effectively remove the argument that China wouldn't want to set up trade with Europe, I think you're going to need more than just one wonder-product. A whole series of spices and things like totally different textiles (IIRC European wool and cotton spectacularly failed to find interest in the Orient) would be needed IMO.
 
A sudden thought was perhaps a European form of ginseng. American ginseng formed the base of the US trade with China (second to bullion, of course) and it is possible that a European ginseng could have the same effect much earlier.

Another possibility is a European version of the cinchona trees, providing early quinine. Such a good could see high demand in regions that suffered perennially from malaria.

However, even without postulating a new trade good or biological PoD, perhaps the key would be simply modifying demand. Imagine a Chinese Marco Polo type figure, perhaps during the Tang dynasty. He travels to the far, barbarous West with a botanical and medical goal: to classifying and study the herbs and plants there in search of potential remedies. A treatise, named "Compendium of Far Western Formulas and Remedies" is written and released, which expounds the uses of things like juniper and amber within the context of Chinese medicine.

This creates a demand for these products in China (and perhaps later in other regions such as Korea, Japan and Vietnam).
 
Perhaps silphion, if the Romans hadn't abused it to extinction.

In terms of spices it would be hard for Europe to ever compete with India. The only spices of a non-Asian origin Asians embraced was the many varieties of chili pepper, along with other produce from the Americas.

There were some products which could have become important trade commodities IMO if properly marketed or developed earlier, for example glassware, perfume, turpentine, castor oil, linoleum, large draft horses and donkeys. The cotton trade might have been more successful with an earlier invention of the cotton gin.
 
Whats silphion? Never heard of it.

A type of fennel. It was apparently an effective contraceptive.

also, people are focusing purely on the East Asian trade- perhaps trying to hit on a commodity Indians might want would be as effective (seeing as India is nearer). India imported horses IOTL but Arabia was able to satisfy that demand. Maybe alcohol? Scotch is developed earlier on and sold to the East?
 
also, people are focusing purely on the East Asian trade- perhaps trying to hit on a commodity Indians might want would be as effective (seeing as India is nearer). India imported horses IOTL but Arabia was able to satisfy that demand. Maybe alcohol? Scotch is developed earlier on and sold to the East?

I dunno, I can't see it. Scotch is just an issue of distillation. Woollens?

I'm also not sure why Europe's OTL minerals don't count. Gold and silver from Germany and Romania, Frankish weapons...
 
I dunno, I can't see it. Scotch is just an issue of distillation. Woollens?

I'm also not sure why Europe's OTL minerals don't count. Gold and silver from Germany and Romania, Frankish weapons...

India has cotton and good steel already.

One thing about Europe is that the prohibited the sale of weapons and I think iron to heathens, especially with the Muslims who were seen as the enemy of the Europeans. The Muslims were also essentially the Middlemen for India and the rest of the east. That was changed of course but what it seems like to me was that the portuguese got gold from africa and moved that east to India. Or they just conquered the territory they needed.

During the 16 hundreds there was trade with Persia through Astrakan overseen by Russia. I don't know what they gave the Persians but I just today bought a copy of Olearius' Travels so I will report back if I find anything.
 
One thing about Europe is that the prohibited the sale of weapons and I think iron to heathens, especially with the Muslims who were seen as the enemy of the Europeans. The Muslims were also essentially the Middlemen for India and the rest of the east. That was changed of course but what it seems like to me was that the portuguese got gold from africa and moved that east to India. Or they just conquered the territory they needed.

That pretty much rules out amber, considering the only source was controlled by the German Order (i think).
A treatise, named "Compendium of Far Western Formulas and Remedies" is written and released, which expounds the uses of things like juniper and amber within the context of Chinese medicine.

Thats a good idea, just one nitpick, amber is pretty much a rock, they might be able to think of a placebo for it (rub it on a bruise or grind it up and eat it?) but they should probably be smarter than that.

Then again i dont know anything about old Chinese medicine, maybe they would have actually believed in it. Medicine for everyone back in the old days was weird.
 
There are probably plenty of unique european trade goods that China might have demand for. But all that relies on the chinese learning like the europeans did of the others wealth. To the Chinese, thistle might be exotic, or reindeer horn, or amber just about anything can be a valued trade good.

What if the Golden Horde was a bit less burn everything and took time to appreciate the unique flavor of the Herbs of Europe. Then if they are eventually throw. Out because they are less ruthless, they go flocking back to Mongolia and eventually China. The herb loving Mongols then introduce the unique varieties of european herbs into the rich upper class, proclaiming that Nettle improves stamina and when things settle down the great Round Eyes Herb Trading company set up shop.
 
Whats silphion? Never heard of it.

It was the miracle drug of the time, was used for everything from spicing up food, pain relief, coughing, stomach cramps, indigestion, etc. Mostly used as a highly effective contraceptive and for abortions. It may have had the same sociological effect as The Pill, making it easier for people to sleep around without pregnancy. The Romans used it so much it went extinct.
 
During the 16 hundreds there was trade with Persia through Astrakan overseen by Russia. I don't know what they gave the Persians but I just today bought a copy of Olearius' Travels so I will report back if I find anything.
Furs, honey, wax, most probably. Before Russian conquest, Muslim traders in Caspian and Black Sea regions exported slaves, too. After the conquest, that latter trade was forbidden (intra-Russian trade in humans was allowed, though) and greatly diminished, as a result.
 
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