Banana leaves are definitely something you’ve seen in many exotic restaurants, or in Asia if you’ve been there in vacation. Locals use banana leaves as quick and easy plates, or to wrap food, or to flavor something. Whatever the use, it’s clear banana leaves are important for a large part of the global population. Which …

Strawberries are undoubtedly the king of all fruits. The delicious and juicy soft-fruits are enjoyed by all of us. However, if you tend to throw the top part of strawberries in the trash before enjoying them, this article is for you. The taste of fresh, ripe strawberries is unbeatable. You can use this mouth-watering fruit …

When biting into a delicious slice of cheesecake we often wonder what makes it so, well, delicious. The answers are always the flavorings, but there’s a little more than that. You may wonder if cheesecake has eggs in it, since it’s so creamy and well congealed. Well, if you’re in any way allergic to eggs …

The tarragon plant is also known to many people under the name of estragon. It is a species from the sunflower family. Its origin is in North America and it is used in vinegar in France. But if you don’t like the taste or can’t get your hands on this addition, there are plenty of …

Have you ever met folks who eat raw eggs ? Either for extra protein for bodybuilding, or just for nutrition’s sake, some folks see the benefit of eating a whole, raw egg. Or mixing one into their smoothie or shake. What do raw eggs taste like ? Are they worth it flavor-wise or is there …

Expired eggs might still be safe for consumption so don’t toss them off into the trash bin just yet. Yes, egg cartons have an expiry date mentioned on them. Sometimes, you may not be able to finish off all the eggs that you have bought for the home. Some of them could be left out …

It’s no secret that cheese is one of the most popular food additions, and mozzarella is a particular favorite. Loved by most people, mozzarella often adds an extra dimension to almost any recipe. But, there are some scenarios that prevent the use of mozzarella when the recipe calls for it. So today we’re going to …

Parsley is a vegetable like many green leafy vegetables we love, such as spinach and celery. Why is there confusion about parsley’s status as a vegetable? It may be because people don’t use it predominantly as a major vegetable. They are using it more as a condiment to add flavor to their vegetable dishes. Granted, …

The dragon fruit, otherwise known as pitaya, originates from Central America where it was popularized by the Dutch colonialists. It was introduced by the French into Southeast Asia. In Asia, the dragon fruit is known as the strawberry pear. It grows from hylocereus, a climbing cactus that very much resembles a tree. The word hylocereus …

Thickening soy sauce improves sweetness, texture, and consistency. Thicker sauce finds use in diverse recipes, including hot and sour soup, stir fry, and dips. You’ll almost always need to thicken the sauce when cooking Asian dishes, and especially if you’re trying to replicate your favorite takeout. So, today we’re going to show you just how …

If you’re a fruit lover then you’ve probably heard of passion fruit by now. And if you’ve never tasted it, then you may be wondering what passion fruit tastes like. Given its name you could expect it to be all kinds of flavors, and rightly so. Passion fruit does sound like a very flavorful, exotic …

Carob is maybe not the most popular ingredient, but for those who love it it’s a bit of a godsend. Sweeter than cocoa powder and often used as a decent replacement for chocolate, there’s a lot of folks who swear by carob powder. Still, as any ingredient carob has a shelf life. This is what …

If you’re one of the people wondering about carob and chocolate, and how well they can replace one another then you may want to understand the difference between them. While carob is not the same as cocoa powder, it’s definitely something many health-conscious folks reach to when they need a chocolate replacement. So today we’re …

Although the rich bittersweet taste of chocolate is hard to beat, carob is gaining much popularity as an excellent alternative to our beloved chocolate. However, the biggest concern of vegans and lactose intolerant folks is finding the right dairy-free replacements for chocolate. So this is what we’ll be looking at today, so read on. Is …

When hunting for your favorite chocolate chips at the grocery store, there are full chances of you getting across the carob chips. While they  look similar to our all-time favorite chocolate chips, they are completely different things. Just like chocolate comes from cocoa pods, carob comes from carob pods. You can find it mostly in …

Commonly found alongside the onions, leeks and garlic in the grocery store, shallots make an essential kitchen ingredient. They can be used in a variety of ways, from salads, soups to stocks and quiches. There are still some people who haven’t got to taste this amazing vegetable, and that’s a shame. If you’re one of …

Lots of people don’t really distinguish between shallots and onions. In fact, Allium ascalonicum (shallots) are classified as a separate species within the broader Allium cepa (onions). Other close relatives include garlic, leek, chive and Chinese onion. Perhaps the easiest way to distinguish them from red onions is their smaller size, interiors that cook faster, and a …

Shallots may be a little confusing, but what about shallot greens ? If you’re even a little familiar with shallots, you’ll know they taste like a cross between an onion and garlic, and a little bit watery. Naturally, they grow long, thin leaves, just like onions and garlic. You may be wondering if those nice …

Have you ever had durian, outside of Southeast Asia ? If yes, then you know it’s pretty pricey. Especially so for a fruit that’s really smelly and doesn’t sit well with many people. Still, folks can’t help but be both repelled and drawn by this incredible fruit. We’re thinking this has something to do with …

Lemongrass is a common ingredient in lots of Asian dishes, but also found in perfumes, creams and old folk treatments. You won’t find it very easily if you’re not in an Asian market or shop, but it can be found. And when you do find it, it’s a little bit expensive. Today we’re going to …