Grown in Europe but native to southeastern parts of America, most of us have probably, at some point, been captivated by the beauty of the striking passion flower. However, a lot of people (including me until recently) may not have know about the health-boosting benefits that this plant possesses. ...

Tired? Grouchy? Feeling lousy? We’ve all been there! Whilst there are many things that can affect your mood, the food that we eat can have a huge impact on how we feel. Some foods in particular can help to stabilise your mood and promote feelings of happiness by encouraging the release of the happy ...

Evolution has programmed us to be desirous of sweet flavours, however the knowledge of the host of detrimental effects of excessive sugar intake is now part of mainstream consciousness. Such increased awareness has lead to a saturated market of ‘sugar alternatives’, which unfortunately, are ...

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 ...

Hibiscus, or Hibiscus Sabdariffa, is a tropical flower belonging to the Malvaceae family. Botanists believe that there are eight original hibiscus species that can be considered ancestors of the hibiscus hybrids found today. These are said to be native to India, China, Mauritius, Hawaii, Fiji, and ...

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 ...

Eggplant, otherwise known as aubergine or brinjal, is a deep, purple glossy pear-shaped vegetable. It belongs to the nightshade family of vegetables which include tomatoes, bell peppers and potatoes. There are many different varieties that all differ slightly in taste, texture and, one can describe ...

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 ...

Cacao beans are the seeds of the cacao tree (or Theobroma), which are grown, for example in Mexico and several other South American countries. Cacao beans are then processed and heated to make cocoa, which is used in conventional chocolate bars. In its raw, unprocessed form however, cacao retains ...