With no agreed place of origin, a multitude of myths from a host of cultures surrounding their uses as signs of social hierarchy through to symbols of immortality and their ambiguous position in nature in which they are considered more closely related to humans than plants – the prehistoric ...

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 ...

They’re sweet, juicy, a fantastic pick-me-up and refreshing source of multiple nutrients as well as one of the popular fruits on supermarket shelves. You might have asked yourself are cuties satsumas? Well, the mandarins you see in grocery shops called 'cuties' and 'sweeties' are clementines, ...

See that weighty sphere of yellow fruit perched on the shelves -do you often walk past it when you do your weekly shop? If the answer is yes, then halt your trolley! Galia melons (see our previous article on watermelon) are full of so many nurturing goodies and go great with trifles, smoothies and ...

The fruit of the ficus tree, part of the mulberry (or moraceae) family, figs have a an amazing reputation when it comes to keeping you healthy. When cut open, the sweet, soft and chewy fruit has a delicious red flesh and edible seeds. Figs come in many colours, textures, shapes and sizes and are ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...