The chemistry (and fascinating history) of pepper, the spice that changed the world (video)

WASHINGTON, March 3, 2014 — Pepper is one of the most plen­­­­­­­tiful condiments in the world today, but it used to be more valuable than gold. In the American Chemical Society’s (ACS’) latest Reactions video, we examine how pepper’s delectable chemistry made it a key player in the global spice trade. The sought-after spice helped usher in the “Age of Discovery,” which bridged the gap between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. And because we’re celebrating our second month of existence, it’s a Reactions double feature this week. In our second video, we examine the science behind the most misunderstood spice in the world: allspice. The videos are available at:

The chemistry of pepper, the spice that changed the world: http://youtu.be/CKrrks2MugU

Allspice: The world’s most misunderstood spice: http://youtu.be/powCDlagwi

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The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 161,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.