Jackfruit is the world's biggest fruit to grow on an actual tree and can grow up to 3ft (1m) long and weigh up to 100lb (45kg)! Indigenous to the Southwestern rain forests of India, jackfruits are related to figs, mulberry and breadfruit. The trees are widely cultivated for their fruit, seeds and ...

Cumin is a small seed, ridged and yellow-brown in colour and has been used for both medicinal and culinary purposes throughout the world.  Although it is a seed native to Egypt, it has been cultivated for thousands of years in the Middle East, India, China and Mediterranean countries. Its unique ...

The sociable South American tradition of passing around a gourd of Yerba (‘herb’ in Spanish) mate leaves soaked in warm water has now developed into a health craze in the Western world. With the botanical name 'Ilex paraguariensis' a member of the holly family, Yerba mate is known for its ...

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 ...

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 ...

Passion fruit originates from South America (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina) and is part of the psychedelic, funky-looking ‘Passiflora’ family – recognised for both its delectable culinary qualities, as well as its potent medicinal value. It is now cultivated in the majority of temperate, warmer ...

Papaya is a fruit from the Carica papaya plant, originating in Central America and Southern Mexico. Papayas grow in tropical climates and are now grown in various parts of the world. They are also known as "papaws" or "pawpaws" (remember Jungle Book's "Bare Necessities" song?). Papayas can grow up ...

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 ...

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 ...