Artichokes are actually flower buds — if not harvested, they bloom into large purple flowers.

Sushi originally referred to fermented fish preserved in salt and rice — the rice was discarded before eating.

Nutmeg is hallucinogenic in large doses due to the compound myristicin — but the lethal dose is very small.

The pungent smell of durian comes from sulfur compounds similar to those found in onions and garlic.

Crackers have holes to prevent air bubbles from forming and causing uneven baking.

The flavor of food is 80% smell — this is why food tastes bland when you have a stuffy nose.

Miso paste can be aged for up to three years, developing increasingly complex flavors.

Molasses is a byproduct of sugar refinement — it contains most of the iron and vitamins stripped from refined white sugar.

Raisins, prunes, and currants are all dried fruits with higher natural sugar concentration than their fresh counterparts.