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 ...

The past few years have seen the well-known 'superfood' Spirulina continue to rise in popularity, and with good reason. Spirulina was a food source for the Aztecs in Mexico, with records of it yielding from Lake Texcoco as described by one of Cortés' soldiers. It is a form of bacteria known as ...

Believed to have originated from the tropical Sunda islands and the Moluccas of Indonesia, the purple, distinctively fragrant, mangosteen (or ‘Garcinia mangostana’) is not only rich in colour and flavour but abundant in potent health properties too. Sweet, sour and delicately aromatic, it is one of ...

Cayenne pepper is a spicy chili often used in cooking to add heat to a dish and can be found in chili form, or dried and ground into a powder. The pepper originates from South and Central America, named after a city in French Guiana. This ingredient has been part of the Native American diet and ...

The sharp and hairy appearance of the Malay-Indonesian and Southeast Asian originated Rambutan might make it look like an aggressive lychee imposter, but this exotic fruit has a unique health benefit profile. The Nephelium lappaceum, (Latin) comes from the Sapindaceae family of flowering plants, ...

Durian is an exotic fruit native to the Indonesian and Malaysian rainforests. The durian tree grows up to 50 metres high and typically starts bearing fruit four years after planting. Dubbed the world's smelliest but most nutritious fruit, the pungent smell will probably make you either love it or ...

Did you know that there are around 60 different types of basil? Also known as 'Tulsi' or 'holy basil', it's a very fragrant plant, used as a seasoning herb for numerous dishes as well as being widely known as the main ingredient for pesto sauce. Basil leaves are used to improve the flavour of ...

The beautiful, vibrantly coloured dragon fruit (pittaya) is sometimes known as ‘Moonlight’ or  ‘Queen of the Night’ as it blossoms between the evening and midnight. It looks similar to a dragon egg but it packs in so much potency that it might make you feel like you can breathe fire! From adding it ...

With hundreds of sauces, herbs, spices and canned goods out there, it can be difficult to decide what to give your vegan cupboard space over to. Another list would tell you to stock up on five types of beans, but we think you could do better. Below is a list of Top 5 Vegan Cupboard Essentials ...

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 ...