Food Facts for Kids
Tasty facts about the food we eat
The coconut palm is called the 'Tree of Life' in many cultures because almost every part of it is useful — the fruit, milk, water, oil, shells, husks, leaves, and wood are all used for food, fuel, or building materials.
Yeast is a single-celled fungus that makes bread rise by producing carbon dioxide gas as it eats sugars. Without yeast, bread would be flat and dense — just like unleavened flatbreads, which are made intentionally without it.
The durian fruit from Southeast Asia is famous for having an extremely powerful and unpleasant smell — often described as gym socks or rotting onions. Despite this, it tastes rich and creamy and is considered a delicacy.
Anchovies on pizza are not fresh — they are cured in salt for five to eight months before being packed in oil or sold. The salt preserves them and transforms their flavour from mild to intensely savoury and umami-rich.
Traditional Genovese pesto is made by hand using a marble mortar and pestle — and the name 'pesto' literally means 'pounded.' Using a blender heats the basil leaves and turns the sauce a darker, less vibrant green.
Tabasco sauce, one of the world's oldest commercial hot sauces, has been made on Avery Island in Louisiana since 1868. It is aged in used bourbon barrels for up to three years before being bottled.
Purple carrots are actually the original variety and were grown in what is now Afghanistan over 1,000 years ago. Orange carrots were developed in the Netherlands in the 17th century, possibly to honour the Dutch royal House of Orange.
Black beans are also called turtle beans because of their hard, shell-like appearance. They are native to the Americas and have been a dietary staple in Latin American cultures for over 7,000 years.
An artichoke is actually the large unopened flower bud of a thistle plant. If left unpicked, it blooms into a spectacular purple flower. The part we eat — the base of the petals — is called the 'heart.'
Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin, which in large doses can cause hallucinations, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness. You would need to eat several teaspoons to experience effects — normal cooking amounts are completely safe.