Though there is no precise place of origin, with common names such as ‘Chinese’, ‘Korean’, and ‘Indian date’, it is fair to assume that the ‘ziziphus jujuba’ or simply the ‘jujube’ originated in Asia. The richly coloured red fruit is symbolic of fertility in Korea, where it is thrown at the skirt ...

Despite its name, the Brazil nut is in fact the seed produced by the fruit of the Brazil nut tree. Native to Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and of course Brasil, its nut tree is one of the largest trees known to grow in the Amazon rainforest and it reaches an average height of 160ft (49m). Brazil nuts are ...

The modern day celery that we all know, originally formed from a wild celery that was native to the Mediterranean, where the seeds were used for their medicinal properties.  The earliest mention of celery leaves dates back to the ninth century where it made an appearance in the Odyssey, by the ...

Not just for warding off vampires and giving us (ahem) powerful breath, garlic has been used for generations as a medicine with the first recorded use dating back to the Ancient Egyptians. Fast forward into the 21st century and it's still as popular as ever. Read on to discover the Top 5 Health ...

The increasingly popular konjac plant is found in tropical parts of Eastern Asia and is an incredible zero-calorie soluble fibre source fit for all kinds of weight loss diets and meals.  Also known as Devils Tongue, Voodoo Lily or Snake Palm, read on for our Top 5 Health Benefits of Konjac! 1. ...

While Cherries are primarily grown in Turkey, the sweetest batch are produced in California, USA. They are popular with young children because of the sweet and sour taste blend they deliver and due to their deep red appearance, they also provide us a rich mixture of antioxidants and vitamins. Has ...

The often forgotten half of the classic salt and pepper pairing, black pepper has some impressive health benefits. Originating in India, a peppercorn is actually a dried fruit from the black pepper plant, and is sold either in peppercorn form or ground down into a powder. As the world’s most traded ...

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 ...

Fennel is a sweet, anise-flavoured herb, where the bulb, leaves and seeds are all used in different ways.  It is grown in the Mediterranean and heavily used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisines, it's also used in many parts of the world and can be grown quite easily. When you hear what benefits ...

The southern/central American and Mexican originated Guava may be difficult to source in a commercial supermarket, but the host of health benefits offered from this sweetly aromatic, tropical fruit make it worthy of the journey to the specialist grocers!  From the Myrtace family who also brought us ...

Nowadays following a diet that is more plant-based and focused on reducing consumption of animal products is a topic at the centre of attention. Accumulating evidence suggests that the benefits are far reaching, encompassing environmental, ethical and keep fit health benefits. For that reason, ...

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 ...