54 World of Spice
Kolkata
Chennai
CHINA
To the
Middle East
and EuropeKashghar
The northern and
southern routes of
the Silk Road merged
in this oasis city.Turpan
This city was
an important trade
centre on the northern
branch of the Silk Road.World of Spice
EAST ASIA
Despite being at the far eastern edge of
the Old World, East Asia has influenced the
global spice trade hugely, from key stops on
15th-century trade routes to being the
world’s fourth-largest spice producer today.
Most of the spices here are mild; Sichuan
pepper is a tongue-tingling exception.
SPICE REGIONS
West China p61
North China p58
East China p59
South China p60
South Korea p56
Japan p57
054-055_Map_east_asia.indd 54 04/06/2018 17:07