Spicing Up the Frontier

Elario Cardova, born in 1861 and raised in Texas, recalled the value of spices, “We obtained our berries and fruits from the wild vegetation in the woods…. Thus our fruit was obtained without the use of money. Likewise, nuts of various kinds, such as the pecan, hazel and chestnut….There was some money spent for thread and buttons, and our shoes was the major clothing bill. We needed money for taxes, which was negligible, money for spices, tea, coffee and medicine.” Spices—both savor