Corked
Corked Pronounce it: core-k’d Wine can be faulty for a number of reasons, for example if air has seeped into the bottle the wine can become ‘oxidised’ and taste of sherry. In the case of…
Glossary
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate Pronounce it: dahk chok-o-let Dark chocolate means the shiny, dark-reddish brown treat produced from the cacao bean, theobroma cacao, widely sold as pressed blocks, bars or as a coating for sweet fillings. Before…
Rapeseed oil
Rapeseed oil If you want a light alternative to other cooking oils, rapeseed is a great choice and has experienced a surge in popularity since around 2008. It’s produced from the bright yellow rape plant…
Mushroom
Mushroom Pronounce it: mush-room The mushroom is a fungus which comes in a wide range of varieties that belong to two distinct types: cultivated and wild. In myth and folklore mushrooms have always had something…
Nutritional yeast
Nutritional yeast Pronounce it: new-trish-in-al yeest Dried nutritional-yeast flakes differ from active and beer yeasts because, after being grown commercially, the yeast is heat treated to de-activate it, so it cannot ferment. Its special appeal…
Fenugreek herb
Fenugreek herb Pronounce it: fenn-you-greek her-b A staple of Indian food (the herb’s Indian name is methi), fenugreek has a very distinctive, curry-powder aroma and a three-leafed, clover-like shape. The dried seed (see fenugreek seed)…
Star anise
Star anise Pronounce it: star an-eese Star anise is one of the central spices in Chinese cooking. It has a strong anise flavour, with a liquorice-like aroma. The dominant flavour in Chinese five-spice powder, star…
Malbec
Malbec Pronounce it: marl-bek The Argentinian hero Malbec was once one of the regular participants in Bordeaux blends. Today it has fallen out of favour. Further south in Gascony it still has a role to…
Tayberry
Tayberry Pronounce it: tay-berree Like the loganberry, the tayberry is a cross between the red raspberry and blackberry. It is a cone-shaped fruit that can be 4cm (1½ inches) long. It has a strong aromatic…
Apple
Apple Pronounce it: ap-pel Grown in temperate regions, apples are one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits. There are over 7,000 varieties in existence, many of which are grown in Britain but, despite that,…