What is "powder-douce"

Powder-douce (poudre-douce), literally "sweet powder," is a spice mix used in Medieval and Renaissance cookery. Like modern spice mixes such as " Italian seasoning," " garam masala," "taco seasoning," etc., there was not a set ingredient list, it varied from cook to cook. The author of the 14th-century manuscript Le Menagier de Paris suggested a mix of grains of paradise, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, and galangal.

There is a related mixed spice called Powder-forte, literally "strong powder".