Spices in Marrakech souks tend to be displayed in pyramid-shaped mounds. The bright colors include black and white pepper, yellow turmeric, red paprika, brown cinnamon and golden cumin. Each has a unique aroma and taste. While most are used as staples in Moroccan cuisine, a few are also used for medicinal purposes. For example, saffron is supposed to cure asthma. Some people also claim it is a sexual stimulant. But saffron is also very expensive (can be several thousand dollars a pound) and frequently counterfeited. So choose your spices carefully.
