香辛料は海の冒険者たちの夢を駆り立て，スパイス戦争を引き起こし，結果的には世界の歴史に大きな影響を及ぼしたのである．なぜ香辛料にはそのような影響力があったのかマズローの欲求段階説を用いて説明する．香辛料は薬や化粧品や食品として使用されたが，薬や化粧品に対する欲求は安全欲求と自我欲求である．これに対して，食べ物に対する欲求は生理的欲求である．この生理的欲求が世界の歴史に大きな影響を及ぼした原因であると考えられるのである．そこで，香辛料の歴史を使用方法の視点で見直すこととする．

This article presents the results of research on a traditional Portuguese cake, “fios de ovos”.

The author studied the origins and similarities in the recipes, utensils used, ways of serving and eating, ets., of this cake in Portugal; Malacca; Thailand; Macau; Goa, India; and Japan.

The results confirmed that cakes similar to fios de ovos currently exist in Japan, Thailand, and Goa. The original of fios de ovos was “letria de ovos”., according to the first printed cooking guide in Portugal. In Goa, this cake is still called “letria”.

The recipes and utensils used are almost the same in these three areas, and the earlier Portuguese cooking style has been retained.

In Goa, the recipe was handed down orally from mother to daughter in traditional Portuguese Christian homes. In Japan, this cake was designated the cake of the Chikuzen Domain by Fukuoka, the feudal lord, in the Edo Period; hence, it was not found nationwide. Meanwhile, in Thailand, the cake spread from the King’s court to the nobility, and eventually down to common people. Thus, there occurred various arranged which originated from fios de ovos.