The History of Vanilla Vanilla pods were first harvested, centuries ago, from wild orchids in Mexico. It was soon realized that, when they fell to the ground when they were barely ripe, the long, thin fruits of these plants fermented under a covering of humus, giving off an exquisite aroma. The first mention of vanilla […]
Raspberries, fruit of the Olympian Gods An ancient legend has it that raspberries, actually part of the rose family, were originally a white fruit. The story goes that the nymph Ida, daughter of a King of Crete, nursed the god Zeus when he was a baby. One day he was upset and crying, and she […]
Once upon a time there was a pistachio nut It is thought that as far back as 9000 years ago, in the Middle East, pistachio nuts were already being consumed and appreciated. Then, they were probably wild fruits. Cultivation of the pistachio tree may have begun as long ago as 4000 years ago in Assyria, […]
The origin of Caribbean cocoa beans Cocoa (from the Spanish word, cacao) has a long and fascinating history, stretching back at least 4000 years. The ancient civilisation of the Mayans used cocoa beans for medicinal purposes and to make a bitter drink used in traditional rituals. The Aztecs later used cocoa beans as currency, clearly […]
Lemons from Amalfi, Italy The Amalfi coast, in the Italian region of Campania, is the land of lemons! Grown on terraces, lemon trees cover the mountainsides and produce highly prized, particularly aromatic fruits. And, as a food, lemons can be found everywhere, in the glass as a drink as well as on the plate! The […]
Salted butter caramel, a deliciously irresistible combination of caramel, salt and butter, has a whole story behind it and its ingredients! Brittany salt The 14th century in France was a key period when the virtues of salt were discovered with regard to food preservation. In 1343, King Philip VI introduced the “gabelle”, a salt tax, […]
Quintessentially English What do strawberries and cream make you think of? Sitting on a grassy bank watching rowers on a tree-lined river Thames at the Henley Regatta? Sipping champagne in a flower festooned marquee at a summer wedding reception? In short, to many people, strawberries and cream mean a perfect summer’s day in England. […]
Simnel cake – to boil, bake or both? There is a delightful legend about this cake. In medieval times, regulations suggested simnel cakes should be boiled and then baked; but how did this double cooking convention come about? Well, a mythical couple, Simon and Nelly, fell out over making the cake because one wanted to […]
We all know how good mothers are at multi-tasking – they have to be – but did you know that Mother’s Day itself has done some multi-tasking in its time, by representing all sorts of mothers? Mother’s Day originated in the Middle Ages and is always on the fourth Sunday of Lent, the period leading […]
“Love planted a rose and the world turned sweet” … Katharine Lee Bates Fast approaching is Valentine’s Day, with its tradition of sending letters, cards or gifts, often featuring heart shapes. But who was Valentine? What is actually behind this celebration of love? And how did the traditions associated with it begin? Valentine’s Day (properly […]
