Reflections on fragrant frontier entanglements

in tracing the journey of spices from the Sino-Vietnamese borderlands to global buyers, the chapters in this volume have revealed the workings of frontier markets and networks, complex commodity chains, and broader marketing strategies. Focusing on star anise, black cardamom, and cinnamon (or more correctly, probably C. cassia), the Introduction explored how the volumes, modalities, and global reach of trading networks have transformed over time. These spices and others played important roles in European commercial and regional territorial contests during colonial rule. Now, these three spices command high if somewhat volatile prices within global markets. Although their cultivation draws on the specialised knowledge of ethnic minorities in the Sino-Vietnamese borderlands, these spices emerge as more than a niche commodity. The case studies in this volume have shared the lived experiences of ethnic minority spice producers, the organisation of spice networks, processes of value creation, and how various participants benefit from or bear the risks of this spice trade