It's not as if they weren't flavoring their food, just that we don't count those flavorings as "spices". Most of the plant flavorings native to Europe tend to b

It's not as if they weren't flavoring their food, just that we don't count those flavorings as "spices". Most of the plant flavorings native to Europe tend to be considered to be herbs. Although, it's not exactly consistent as cloves should probably be referred to as herbs instead of spices, since it's the flower being harvested.