Capers are not really a local spice. They are usually found in more southern and therefore warmer regions. In southern Italy, Sicily or Sardinia. ... Later, a second shrub from Sicily was added.

What kind of spice are capers?

Capers come from a prickly bush called capparis spinosa that grows wild across the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The capers we see in the grocery store are the un-ripened green flower buds of the plant. Once they're picked, the immature buds are dried and then preserved.

Are capers a condiment?

In American culinary arts, capers are primarily a condiment, and in the Mediterranean, they are simply an ingredient, prized for their special, earthy flavor. ... Capers are most often preserved by pickling them in a brine of vinegar, salt, or wine, or by curing in salt.