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 ...

Vanilla is a secret ingredient flavouring our foods and beverages and is also present in many perfumes. This spice derives from the orchid family of the genus Vanilla, which is native to Mexico. The distinctive flavour and fragrance has made it a staple addition to sweet and savoury dishes and the ...

Buckwheat is a pseudo grain - it has grain-like properties but is not a grain. Also, it has no relation to wheat as the name suggests. In Europe, countries like Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine are large producers of buckwheat. Similarly, Russia, the United States and China are main global buckwheat ...

With the showery spring now well established and summer approaching, you may be keen to incorporate some alternative fresh, new ingredients into your diet. Part of the Sapindaceae family (also responsible for maple and rambutan) the Chinese originated lychee has been utilised as much in traditional ...

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 ...

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 ...

Do strawberries just seem like that surprisingly common item that you walk past while doing your food shopping? There are actually so many health benefits and uses for this wonderful fruit if you stop and think about it.  Read on to discover the Top 5 Health Benefits of Strawberries! 1. Helps ...

Based in Glastonbury, Somerset and founded in 2004, Indigo Herbs has been serving its customers with ethical, natural and vegan friendly nutritional supplements for the past thirteen years and with affordability at their core, they’ve made it their mission to make health and well-being accessible ...

Sweet potatoes are readily available, inexpensive, tasty and very good for you. If you thought that chips can't be good for your cardiovascular system and blood pressure, well, the sweet potato variety is at your rescue  read on for our Top 5 Health Benefits of Sweet Potato! 1. Blood sugar ...