Comments by "king james488" (@kingjames4886) on "Ask Adam: Why is European food bland? Are closed mussels actually bad? Career advice? (PODCAST E19)" video.

wonder if it has more to do with rubbing meat with spices keeping bugs off of meat that's drying or sitting around or w.e... and there are more bugs and bug borne illnesses in warmer areas. they still do this sort of thing when making some sort of air cured ham, especially on the bone ends... supposedly if you don't there's some bug that'll burrow into the bone and eat the ham from the inside out. I vaguely remember watching a thing about it :P I assume this is also why many cured deli meats are either covered with a layer of smoke, herbs, or spices. the food purity issues in northern europe around the time of the industrial revolution also probably played a part in those people favoring less flavorful food that would be easier to hide adulterants in.
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