On returning from our trip to Maine this past summer, I embarked on a mission to find translations for the labels on the various drawers in the old “spice rack” which hangs in the kitchen of the house in Walpole and is featured in my earliest memories of the place.
Since becoming an adult I have assumed the language was Dutch. Working on this premise, I approached my friends Mary, who lived in Holland for a time, and Roelof, who is himself Dutch.
They confirmed that the language is indeed Dutch, and were happy to help. Mary provided the initial translation, with Roelof making a few clarifications, including one for the perennial favorite, RUST. The only word the team could not translate immediately was NAGELEN. I found a translation myself with the help of Google. The translations follow the photograph.
Tres,
The word rust is actually spelled rijst in the picture. Rijst is rice in English. In Dutch the combination of “ij” equals “y”. Mary is correct that kruiden means spices. Sago is actually an Indonesian type flour and porridge that is made from trees if I am correct. I know the word nagelen but I am not sure what the translation is. I will have to ask my wife. I am very bad in the kitchen environment. Usually throw the wrong stuff in foods. The rest Mary got correct I think. I will get back to you.
Best regards
Roelof
Semolina is a coarse-ground Durum wheat flour.
A Google search
for sago suggests that it is a food made from the sago palm,
and not unlike tapioca or arrowroot.
Mary tells me the word she is familiar with for cloves is
kruidnagelen. The references I found for nagelen all seem
to be rather old; perhaps nagelen is the old word.
Thanks to Mary Pronk and Roelof Bruintjes for the translations.