WHAT IS A PURPLE PERUVIAN POTATO? For centuries this South American staple has also been called the “Food of the Gods.” Rich in marbled shades of blue and purple, this potato is generally oblong in size. Smaller in size then other potatoes, these tubers have a nutty flavor. In the 1500s Spanish sailors introduced this […]
Archaeology of Fregetables (Fruit & Veg)
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Passionfruit
WHAT IS PASSIONFRUIT? In the last few years this tiny tropical fruit has rapidly grown in popularity. It comes in three types, purple, yellow or giant. The purple variety is native to Central and South America, while the yellow varietal favors a more tropical climate. Also known as liliko’i, maracuya or granadilla this fruit of the Passiflora vine […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Cantaloupe
WHAT IS A CANTALOUPE? This superfood is in the same family as cucumbers, pumpkins and squash. While the cantaloupe is technically a vegetable, it’s eaten as a fruit for all intents and purposes. Famous for its’ sweet and juicy flavor, like most “fruits” once you pluck it off the vine they stop ripening. WHY […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Black Radish
WHAT IS A BLACK RADISH? This delicious member of the root family has a tough, black outer skin and a crisp, snow white interior. Larger then your traditional red radish, it goes by many names including Black Mooli and Gros Noir. Slightly bitter, this hardy and nutritious vegetable is a great food on it’s own. […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Mango
WHAT IS A MANGO? These Asian stone fruits have been grown in India for over 4,000 years. Back then before refrigeration existed, mangoes were pickled for long-distance transport. Their trees can grow to over 100 feet (30 meters) in height with hundreds of different species yielding fruit in different shapes and colors. It’s sweetness is […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Arugula (Rucola)
WHAT IS ARUGULA? The anti-thesis to evil iceberg lettuce and a relative of the more evil broccoli. Arugula is a cruciferous vegetable. Often described as peppery or flavorful, it’s a great way to add flavor to an otherwise boring salad. Also known as rocket (it grows quickly), while Americans discovered this delicacy in the 90’s, Italians […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Kumquat
WHAT IS A KUMQUAT? Officially known as Citrus Japonica (Japanese citrus), these small citrus fruits are slightly larger then a grape and grow on equally tiny evergreen trees. While there are many variations, they are generally renowned for being more durable then other citrus fruits like their cousin the orange, The thin skin of the kumquat […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Red Cabbage
WHAT IS A RED CABBAGE? Cabbages in general are leafy, ball-shaped vegetables that are relatives of broccoli. The red version is just a regular cabbage that’s rich in anthocyanins. This compound gives the head its’ unique scarlet or purple coloration. The lower the pH of the soil, the redder will cabbage will become. Long ago the color […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Blackberry
WHAT IS A BLACKBERRY? These dark, delicious fruits are from prickly bushes that are members of the rose family. Similar to raspberries but black in color, the blackberry is often thought to have originated in North America, but it’s a European import. They are both easy to gr0w and perrenial! WHY ARE BLACKBERRIES GOOD […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Artichoke
WHAT IS AN ARTICHOKE? This bizarre food is the friendly yet intimidating alien of the gourmet world. Originally from Sicily, wealthy Romans considered it a delicacy when served with vinegar and honey. However it’s actually a thistle and the part that you eat is the flower (pre-bloom)! While this succulent mystery looks like a […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Garlic Scapes
WHAT IS A GARLIC SCAPE? So scapes are the green shoots that grow out of the top of a garlic clove that sat too long in your kitchen. They’re also a metaphorical criticism of your cooking ability. Seriously, who doesn’t use garlic when cooking!!!!! Anyway, cut them off to allow your garlic cloves to grow […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Taro
WHAT IS A TARO? It is a tropical plant whose root is edible only when cooked. With giant elephant ear sized leaves that grow to over a foot (30 cm) in length, this is also a popular ornamental plant. Taro is a popular substitute in Asia and Hawaii (poi!) for potatoes. It has a mildly […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Pomegranate
WHAT IS A POMEGRANATE? This fruit is actually a berry from a shrub capable of growing up to 33 feet (10 meteres) in height. Famous for its thick, leathery skin and bounty of seeds (called arils) the pomegranate is three times as rich as green tea or wine in antioxidants. Originally native to the mountains […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Ramp
WHAT IS A RAMP? These wild onions are native to North America and are also known as wild leeks or ransoms. Often described as tasting like a mix of garlic and onion, they’re only in season for a few weeks each Spring. They have 1 to 2 broad, green leaves and can grow up to […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Yellow Squash
WHAT IS A YELLOW SQUASH? Also known as a summer squash, they are similar in appearance and size to a zucchini. Whereas their green cousin is uniform in shape, a yellow squash tapers to a narrow top and tends to have larger seeds. Be careful not to confuse a yellow squash with a yellow zucchini (their […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Heirloom Tomato
WHAT IS AN HEIRLOOM TOMATO? Unfortunately use of the term “heirloom”, much like the word “gourmet”, has been abused to the point of false advertising. Heirloom was originally a term coined by a professor at the University of New Hampshire in the 1940s. It referred to seeds that had been passed down from farmer to […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Honeycrisp Apple
WHAT IS A HONEYCRISP APPLE? This hybrid of a Macoun and a Honeygold apple was created by the University of Minnesota in the 1960s. Their breeding program successfully created an apple that was able to stand both the cold harshness of mid-Western weather and depressed sport’s fans; but still be of high quality. Smaller in […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Orange
WHAT IS AN ORANGE? Originally from Asia, the orange is a bastard offspring of the pomelo and mandarin citrus fruits. The European word “orange” is actually from its old French name “pomme d’orenge” or orange apple. While it may not look like it, this fruit is actually a modified berry. Its evergreen trees can grow […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Pear
WHAT IS A PEAR? This popular fruit is thought to have originated in China around 5,000 B.C. Since then pears have spread across the world on trees that can grow to over 50 foot (16 meters) in height! They are surprisingly cold-weather hardy, tolerating below zero temperatures. This fruit comes in a variety […]
ARCHAEOLOGY OF FRUITS & VEGETABLES – Vidalia Onion (Sweet)
WHAT IS A VIDALIA ONION? It’s a brand name that covers several varieties of sweet, white onions that range 1 to 3 inches in size. The state of Georgia trademarked the name “Vidalia” after the town where it was originally grown in the 1930s. Today there are 13 counties that can harvest this brand. The […]