Used widely in South America, Mexico and Caribbean dishes, Allspice (aka Jamaica pimenta, comes from the unripe, dried Pimenta dioicais fruit and) is seen as a wonderful, multi-purpose spice. It can be used in sweet and savoury dishes due to its pungent and fragrant smell. Allspice has also been ...

Native to the ecoregion known as The Amazon Basin, Guarana (pron: g'wara-naa) is a climbing plant which produces a reddish brown fruit. The seeds from this fruit are ground down into powder form and are regularly used as a dietary supplement. The Guarana plant is categorised into the ‘Acer genus’ ...

A common ingredient in many energy drinks both natural and perhaps those less so, this herbal plant has been used to alleviate many ailments and provide energy and focus. There are 11 different varieties in the 'Panax genus' with American and Asian being the most popular. Though it should be noted ...

Mint is known to have originated in the Asian and Mediterranean regions of the world. It was originally used to treat stomach aches and mild chest pains; it is now enjoyed in a countless range of teas, confectionery and culinary dishes. While it is normally used a garnish, the herb is also potent ...

Ginger, a flowering plant that originated in China, is part of the zingiberaceae botanical family and is closely related to cardamom and turmeric. The ginger root (or rhizome) has a long history of use in Indian, Asian and Arabic herbal traditions, as well as being a popular culinary spice. Read on ...