Spice The very word conjures up visions of exotic tastes and places and well it should. For spices were exotic, especially for Western Europeans. They were sought in far-flung parts of the world for their culinary and in many instances for their medicinal value. Our love affair with spices continues. Today we have the spices of the world at our fingertips and we use them to create the dishes of many cultures. We also continue to be interested in their medicinal value, unproven at times by western medicine, but the cachet of the ages remains. The exhibit explores the many facets of spices.