In Season
You may associate your seasonal latte with this gourd, but it almost certainly contains only a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice, which are commonly used to flavor the vegetable, but are not the flavor of the vegetable itself.
What is pumpkin?
The sap of this tree is cultivated extensively to make distinctively-flavored syrup and candies. It’s popularly served with pancakes and waffles.
What is maple?
This well-read Roman’s last words are recorded by Suetonius and Cassius Dio as being the Greek phrase “Καὶ σύ, τέκνον” (“You too, child?”) The line “Et tu, Brute?” in Latin was introduced much later by William Shakespeare.
Who was Julius Caesar?
In this British science-fiction TV series, a time-traveling space alien visits various locations past, present, and future through the use of a spaceship that looks like a blue British police box.
What is Doctor Who?
This black tea blend is flavored with oil of bergamot, which lends it a distinctive taste. It’s also a favorite of Star Trek: The Next Generation character Captain Jean-Luc Picard, who often orders it from the replicator, hot.
What is Earl Grey?
This Connecticut town is named after the nation’s first president, who traveled through the area several times during the American Revolution.
What is Washington?
This vegetable often appears on lists of “most hated vegetables” due to its somewhat bitter flavor, which it shares with other cruciferous vegetables. Many children enjoy it, though, because it resembles little green trees.
What is broccoli?
Acorns, the nut of this tree, are actually edible, but must be processed to remove tannins before they are roasted or turned into flour.
What is oak?
An illustration of the importance of enunciation: When asked on his deathbed who should take over his empire, this Macedonian general may have said “to the strongest” - or, alternatively, he may have said “Krateros.” If he had mumbled less, the Wars of the Diadochi may have been avoided!
Who was Alexander the Great?
The word “spam” as slang for unwanted junk emails was inspired by a sketch from this comedy series which originally aired in the UK from 1969 to 1974.
What is Monty Python’s Flying Circus?
This traditional Chinese tea is neither a green tea nor a black tea. When making a black tea, the tea leaves are fully oxidized; when making a green tea, the leaves are not oxidized. To prepare the leaves for this type of tea, the leaves are partially oxidized, giving them a unique flavor. The name of the tea is also the name of a pig character in popular anime series Dragon Ball.
What is oolong?
The first law school in the United States was established by Tapping Reeve in this Northwest Connecticut town in 1784.
What is Litchfield?
Some fans complain that the presence of this tuber in The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones is an anachronism, as those settings are inspired by medieval Europe, and this vegetable is a New World crop, originally domesticated in southern Peru.
What is potato?
Populations of this native New England tree are under severe threat from a small, emerald-colored beetle.
What is ash?
The last words of this early Christian martyr, who was being roasted to death on a gridiron, can be colloquially translated as “Turn me over - I’m done on this side.” He is now the patron saint of cooks and comedians.
Who was St. Lawrence?
Tempering chocolate! Choux pastry! This popular British reality show baking competition has introduced a number of both home bakers and non-bakers to some fairly specialized baking vocabulary as contestants are judged by English celebrity chef Paul Hollywood.
What is the Great British Bakeoff?
Preparing a drink made of this green tea powder is the focus of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. In recent years, it has also become a popular flavor for green-colored smoothies, baked goods, candies, and more.
What is matcha?
At the start of the 20th century, the Gilbert Clock Company factory in this town was one of the largest clock manufacturers in the world.
What is Winchester/Winsted?
This little cabbage-like vegetable is named for a city in Belgium.
What are Brussels sprouts?
This native New England tree’s leaves turn bright yellow in the fall, which makes a striking contrast with its white bark that tends to peel off in thin, paper-like layers.
What is birch/paper birch?
Accused of witchcraft, this New Englander was sentenced to be crushed when he refused to plead either guilty or not guilty. By refusing to plead, he legally kept possession of his land, rather than forfeiting it to the government. His last words, according to accounts of his trial, were “More weight.”
Who was Giles Corey? / What were the Salem Witch Trials?
This British historical drama follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Three feature-length film adaptations have been produced: one with the same name as the television show, one with the subtitle “A New Era,” and in 2025 one with the subtitle “The Grand Finale.”
What is Downton Abbey?
This tea is exclusively grown in West Bengal, India, where growing conditions and harvesting practices create a unique flavor profile. It is sometimes called “the champagne of teas.”
What is darjeeling?
The original headstone of this town’s first English colonial settler, Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., can now be seen in the “No Place Like Home” exhibit at the local historical society.
What is Torrington?
As anyone who has cooked with this vegetable knows, its red pigment can leave difficult stains on clothes, cutting boards, and more. The red compound, betanin, is also used industrially as a red food colorant.
What are beets?
In addition to its stunning fall foliage, this tree also puts forth beautiful four-pointed flowers in the spring and has distinctive scaly bark, making it a popular decorative planting.
What is dogwood?
“Nōlī turbāre circulōs meōs!” - “Don’t disturb my circles!” were the last words of this Greek mathematician, inventor, and physicist before he was killed by a Roman soldier.
Who was Archimedes?
This British comedy game show hosted by Greg Davies is synonymous with the challenge “Eat The Most Watermelon In 1 Minute”.
What is Taskmaster?
This caffeine-free drink is marketed as a tea, but it actually comes from a totally different plant, the South African Aspalathus linearis.
What is rooibos?
This rural Litchfield County town is named after the part of Egypt settled by the Hebrews in the Old Testament.
What is Goshen?