The craze over chia seeds has only popped up recently because of so-called recently discovered health benefits and has now been labelled as a ‘superfood’. But chia seeds for centuries have been native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. Chia seeds derive from a plant that is native to the region, and for centuries before that it was consumed by the Aztecs and Mayans as part of … Continue reading In the pantry: Chia seeds
At first glance it could be easily mistaken for cumin seeds, but the aroma and flavour is completely different, plus it’s slightly greener in colour. Much like the herb, fennel seeds have an aniseed flavour, as well as a slightly sweet aroma. The uses of fennel seeds have dated long back into Asian, such as in five spice, and Indian cooking, but have been embraced by … Continue reading In the pantry: Fennel seed
There is a likely chance that if you’ve ever bitten into one of these numb-chuck looking spices, the reaction to your tastebuds would have been rather squirmish due its bitter liquorice-like flavour. But when used in Asian cooking, mainly Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisines, for broths and stews it can add a hint of aniseed flavour, where the harshness of the spice is often dispelled. … Continue reading In the pantry: Star Anise
Much like its friend salt, pepper is also often found at the dinner table used for extra seasoning. Pepper comes from the fruit, known as drupes, and when it is dried it is referred to as a peppercorn. Native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, the three most common types of peppers are: Black, white, and green. While they are actually from the same berries, … Continue reading In the pantry: Pepper
Used as a universal season enhancer in cooking, salt is a mineral substance that is mainly made up of sodium chloride. In cooking there a several kinds of salt, some which are considered healthier than others. The most common type, and found in most saltshakers, is table salt that can often contain additives such as iodine, an essential nutrient, as well as anticaking agent. There is … Continue reading In the pantry: Salt
