Saffron, otherwise known as ‘Kesar’ in Hindi is a prized condiment and by far the most  expensive spice in the world.  It is native to Southern Europe's Crocus sativus plant and renowned globally for its culinary and medicinal characteristics. Its distinct flavour comes from its innate chemical ...

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant in the Asteraceae family native to western Europe, India and western Asia. There are many species of this plant, two of which include Matricaria chamomilla and Anthemis nobilis. This herb consumed as a tea has a flavour similar to that of apples and in addition to ...

Not to be mistaken for “dessert bananas” plantains come from the same family as bananas. They are grown around the world from Central and South America to the Caribbean, Africa and Southeast Asia. The nutrition of this vegetable is similar to that of a banana but the benefits of plantains go beyond ...

We are all told to do at least an hour of exercise a day but did you know that we also need to incorporate two days of strength training? Before you hit those dumbbells, you need to warm up and after you do your exercises, a cool down session should be done. Why is this needed you ask? Read on to ...

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 the kiwifruit is also known as Chinese gooseberry? Native to China (widely found in New Zealand with golden ones available in Italy) and named after the small kiwi bird, the kiwifruit is an oval-shaped fuzzy fruit with a luminous green flesh speckled with black seeds that can ...

Flavonoids, compounds found in a variety of plant-based foods and one of the main phytochemicals found in the cocoa bean, can enhance the quality of your diet and overall well-being. 'Flavonoids' is an umbrella term, whereas cocoa beans are rich in flavanols, cocoa specific flavonoids. There are a ...

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 ...

We often get pumpkins at Halloween and carve scary faces into them and nine times out of ten, we discard the seeds -next time think again as there are many health and well-being advantages to eating them. Pumpkin seeds are high in essential fats and are a fantastic substitute for meat for those ...

Pumpkin is a type of winter squash native to North America, and belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family (the same family as cucumbers and melons). They are usually forgotten about after Halloween, but these orange beauties are packed with nutrients and can be easily added to recipes year round. Read on ...