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 ...

Chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, belong to the legume family and are among the most easily digested thanks to their thin shell. You probably know that your beloved hummus (or houmous) is made from chickpeas, but did you know that they were used as an alternative to coffee in the 18th century? They've ...

Custard apple is a tropical fruit, originally native to South America, however Australia has become one of its largest producers nowadays. There are 2 main types, Pinks Mammoth and African Pride that can easily be found around the world, both have a light green colour when ripe and easily ...

Commonly believed to be a grain and prepared and eaten like one, quinoa or 'Chenopodium quinoa', is in fact a seed botanically speaking and is a relative of spinach and chard. The plant is indigenous to South America, originating in the mountainous area surrounding Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia ...

Edamame beans are young, immature soybeans (also known as 'Glycine max') that are harvested prior to the bean's natural hardening process. These beans have a green colour differing from the soybean's light brown. The bean is believed to have been domesticated from its wild relative, 'Glycine soja', ...

The pistachio tree is a small flowering plant which originates mainly from Central Asia. The fruit of the pistachio tree contains a small oval-shaped seed; pistachio nuts, commonly sold in supermarkets and heath food stores. The trees used for commercial harvest are planted in large orchards and ...

Quince is a special seasonal fruit that ripens between autumn and winter. Hailing from the warm regions of southwest Asia, it was later introduced to various countries of eastern Europe. It is a member of the Rosaceae family, meaning that it is a close relative of apples and pears. Quince, or ...

These bright and juicy vegetables are full of all kinds of nutrients. Although they look among the most common items that you'll find in the supermarket, they have many benefits and can be used in a range of recipes. Curious? Read on to discover the Top 5 Health Benefits of Bell Peppers! 1. ...

This historically popular seed, anise, also known as aniseed and anise seed, is the true anise, Pimpinella anisum, which is not to be confused with the unrelated star anise. The plant is native to Asia, particularly China (news has come to light about the Japanese sources being potentially toxic, ...

Maca root, or lepidium meyenii, is a biennial plant (meaning it takes two years to complete its biological lifecycle) hailing from the high altitude regions of Peru and Bolivia. Although a member of the cruciferous family, maca is a root vegetable similar to the radish or turnip family, but grows ...