Elderberries
Elderberries Pronounce it: ell-duh bear-eez It’s a sad fact that the luscious colour and plumpness of autumn’s elderberries do not deliver the fragrance or flavour of the elder flowers that have preceded them. They are…
Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer Pronounce it: guh-vurts-trah-mee-ner A seductive charmer Gewürz is the wine student’s favourite – it’s the first grape variety you learn to recognise because of its exotic aroma. Depending on the style it is a…
Asparagus
Asparagus Pronounce it: a-spa-ra-gus Labour-intensive to grow, asparagus are the young shoots of a cultivated lily plant. They’re considered to be one of the delicacies of the vegetable world, with a price tag to match,…
Chia
Chia Pronounce it: chee-uh An annual summer herbaceous plant and part of the mint family, this pseudo-grain consists of tiny dark, oval seeds that swell to nine times their original size when added to liquid or eaten. The…
Vanilla
Vanilla Pronounce it: van-ill-ah The sun-dried seed pod of a type of climbing orchid, vanilla has an inimitable soft, sweet fragrance and flavour. The labour-intensive process involved in hand-pollinating and nurturing the flowers, together with…
Kumquat
Kumquat Pronounce it: kum-kwot It looks like a small, oval orange, but the kumquat, which originates in Asia, is a member of another species, fortunella. The flesh of a kumquat is quite dry and has…
Lime leaf
Lime leaf Pronounce it: ly-m leef Lime leaves are obtained from the kaffir lime, which is not a true lime at all but rather a subspecies of the citrus family. Used widely in south-east Asian…
Arrowroot powder
Arrowroot powder Pronounce it: a-row-root Arrowroot powder is a type of starch that can be used instead of cornflour in many ways, including baking, but is most appreciated as a thickener of liquids because it…
Fennel bulb
Fennel bulb Like Marmite, fennel is something that you either love or hate – its strong aniseed flavour leaves no room for the middle ground. From the same family as the herb and seed of…
Flour
Flour Pronounce it: fl-ow-er Flour is a powdery ingredient usually made from grinding wheat, maize, rye, barley or rice. As the main ingredient in bread, it is one of the most common and sought-after ingredients…