Anise

• Most anise seed is cultivated in the mountainous farmland towns of Denizli, Burdur, and Isparta, Turkey. It also grows in Syria, Greece and Egypt. Anise has been traced back to 1500 B.C., when it was used to freshen breath and as an aid to digestion.
  
  

Cinnamon

• Indonesia is the largest producer of cinnamon in the world today. Indonesian cinnamon grows in the volcanic mountain ranges of Western Sumatra.
  
  

Ginger

• Ginger is a tropical spice with a strong citrus flavor. It grows in the Ghat Mountains of India and is an important ingredient in many international cuisines.
  
  

Oregano

• Oregano grows in the mountains and hills around the Aegean Sea. Its name is derived from the Greek, "oros ganos" and means "joy of the mountain."
  
  

Vanilla

• Vanilla is one of the most popular flavors in the world and is cultivated entirely by hand. The most popular species of vanilla, according to McCormick Spices, is vanilla planifolia, which comes from the mountainous areas on the northeast coast of Madagascar.