Perilla (aka, shiso, beefsteak plant, Chinese basil and purple mint) originally came from China until migrating to Japan in the 8th century, Perilla quickly became one of the essential spices to the Asian palate. Before being used in cooking, it was originally used as fuel for oil lamps, but this ...

Originally from the Southern Mediterranean and derived from the Greek word meaning ‘Courage’, Thyme has had multiple uses throughout history. The herb has been used for purifying homes and temples and was often consumed before and after a meal to avoid being affected by poisons. Today, it stands as ...

Native to the Mediterranean region and one of the most commonly found herbs on the spice rack, Rosemary is probably one of the most popular herbs on the planet. It has a welcoming, homely aroma and provides a lovely, subtle taste to almost any dish. But, did you know that it can also be used to ...

Used by Hippocrates in ancient Greece and introduced to the UK in the late Bronze Age, Coriander has become one of the bestselling herbs however, while they are regarded as one of the most popular, not many people know what this fantastic herb can really do for them. Curious? Then read on to ...

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 ...

Most commonly grown in Somalia, but also Yemen, Oman and India, Frankincense is a miraculous oil sourced from the resin of the Boswellia sacra tree and others of a similar species. It is an extremely durable tree, with the ability to grow in little soil with low amounts of hydration. Frankincense ...

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, ...

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 ...

With its variety of health benefits and versatility, it’s fair to say that apple cider vinegar is becoming one of the most picked-up superfood liquids on the high street. Fermenting the sugars found in apples is what makes apple cider vinegar. These fermented sugars then turn into acetic acid -the ...