Hot spice experts from around the world will be gathering in Oxford for the first-ever conference about the ancient history of hot spice.

This hot and spicy conference will be held from December 8-10 at the University of Oxford and Yarnton Manor in Oxford and hosted by the Institute for digital archaeology.

Everything from culinary and medicinal to aphrodisiacal and religious uses will be explored by flavour scientists, historians and chefs.

The hot topic will conclude with a spice banquet planned by Madhur Jaffrey. There will be an intense spice experience including spicy sorbets prepared using three of the hottest peppers on the planet and the fabled ghost pepper will also be part of the ingredients.

How and when spice travelled across Greece, Rome, the Near and Far East and how and why they were used will be discussed. However, the ancient history of spice is not just about great cooking and culture, there is also an intriguing medical angle.

Research into the connection between spice and endorphin levels and how the nervous system processes spice information will also be discussed.

Find the complete daily schedule of the hot and spicy conference, Ancient Spice: the science, history and heritage of culinary heat at digitalarchaeology.org.uk/ancient-spice-2019.