Odd Facts & History
What is the world’s most expensive spice by weight?
Saffron
What rare fungus grows on oak tree roots?
Truffles
What is the name of the bacterial culture that gives sourdough its distinctive tangy flavor?
Lactobacillus
Which popular breakfast cereal was created to prevent masturbation?
Corn flakes
Which amino acid is responsible for the umami flavor found in fermented foods and aged cheeses?
Glutamic acid
Which amino acid is responsible for the umami flavor found in fermented foods and aged cheeses?
Glutamic acid
Before tomatoes became a staple, what fruit was the original base of Italian pasta sauces?
Which vegetable was once called “poor man’s asparagus”?
Leek
In winemaking, what is the precursor chemical used for “malolactic fermentation”?
Malic acid
In the Middle Ages, what expensive spice was locked in chests and used to pay rent or dowries?
Black pepper
What is the rare mineral compound that gives Himalayan pink salt its distinctive color?
Iron oxide
What is the main flavor compound in vanilla beans that gives them their distinctive aroma?
Vanillin
What fruit used to be called a “Persian apple”
Peach
What ingredient did ancient Romans use as a sweetener before sugar was discovered?
Lead acetate
In molecular gastronomy, what gelling agent derived from seaweed is used for “spherification”?
Sodium alginate