By: Pat Polowsky Fun Fact #1: Flavor Chemistry Chocolate is made from the fruit of Theobroma cacao trees. The cocoa beans from this fruit are fermented and roasted, ultimately leading to the precursor that makes its way into your...
BY: MEGAN LOW Confession: I’ve been indulging in a little too much viewing of the popular show MasterChef recently. One thing that never fails to have me in awe and equal bewilderment is how the judges can instantly tell that...
BY: BRYAN LE Origins of Soy Sauce The original predecessors of soy sauce began to appear in China more than 2,500 years ago. Salt was scarce and expensive at the time, and a method to extend salt was discovered...
BY: ALEX PIERCE-FELDMEYER Do you ever feel that two superficially unrelated disciplines actually share commonalities once you dig a little deeper? Take science and art for example. They seem like totally different ends of a spectrum, but to a...
BY: ALEX PIERCE-FELDMEYER Do you ever experience a massive dose of kindergarten-ish nostalgia brought on by koala cookies? I know I do. If you don’t find yourself hoping for a future full of authentic koala cookies, it might be...
BY: MORGAN REASE Honey, or as it’s known among some Silicon Valley types – “buzz custard’, is awesome. Whether it’s fermented into mead, sweetening some delicious baklava, or providing contrast in a breakfast burrito (Seriously try it. You won’t...
BY: BRYAN LE The Legend of Vanilla According to old legends told by the indigenous Totonac “Jaguar” people of Mexico, in a time before vanilla was cultivated, there lived the beautiful princess Tzacopontziza of the Totonocopan kingdom [1]. One...
BY: PRAVEENA THIRUNATHAN What would we do in life without the almighty condiment? French fries are not the same without its partner in crime the sweet and tart ketchup, while mustard is a must on any Chicago hot dog....
BY: BRYAN LE Flavors of the Grocery Aisle When I get a chance to actually take my time while grocery shopping, sometimes I like to just peruse the aisles and read through the ingredient lists of my favorite food...