Tempeh is a conventional soy product which is made by natural culturing and controlled fermentation process which binds soybeans into cake form. It is originated from Indonesia. It is well-known as a vital source of protein on island of Java. Similar to tofu, tempeh is prepared from soybeans. Being a whole soybean product, it varies in textural qualities and nutritional characteristics. The fermentation process and retention of whole bean provide high content of protein, vitamins and dietary fiber. It has earthy flavor and firm texture. The whole soybeans are softened by soaking and dehulled and partly cooked for making tempeh.…

Okara is the ground up fibrous part of bean. It consists of insoluble parts of soybean which is remained after pureed soybeans are filtered in producing soy milk and tofu. Generally it is white or yellowish in color. It is rich in nutrients which contain non-soluble and soluble fiber, calcium, protein and other minerals. Due to high content of fiber, it is more nutritious in comparison to tofu and soy milk. It is used in traditional cuisines of Korea, Japan and China. Okara is packed with calcium, potassium, niacin and calcium. Most of the soybean isoflavones remains in Okara as…

Moth bean is an herbaceous creeping annual plant belonging to Fabaceae family and Faboideae sub family. It forms a low lying soil cover when grown fully. The stem grows up to the height of 40 meters having its hairy and dense packed branches which reaches upto 150 cm.The plant has dense appearance with horizontal branches bearing deeply notched leaflets. Leave resembles potato leaves. Bright yellow flowers form on hairy branches which give way to brown pods measuring 2.5 to 5 cm long bearing 4 to 9 seeds. Seeds are subquadrate, smooth, olive, black, brown and mottled or patchy. The plant…

Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning which is prepared by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji or consistently barley, rice and other ingredients. It is a thick paste which is used for spreads, sauces, pickling vegetables, meats and combined with dashi soup stock for serving as Miso soup. It is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins besides that Miso has vital nutritional role in feudal Japan. In Japan, Miso is used widely in both modern and traditional cooking but has been achieving worldwide interest. Usually Miso is salty but its aroma and flavor depends on various factors in ingredients and…

Tofu also called bean curd is a food prepared by curdling soy milk and pressing it which results curds to form soft white blocks. It is integral for Southeast Asian and East Asian cuisines. Tofu is soft and firm with subtle flavor. It is used in sweet and savory dishes. Tofu has low content of calories but is loaded with high amounts of protein. The flavor of tofu is bland which is desired by customers in North America and beany flavor is desired in East Asia. The taste beany or bland is created during grinding or cooking process of production…

Ceratonia siliqua is also known from these names: Carob, Carob tree, St John’s-bread, Locust bean and Locust tree. Carob is a species of flowering evergreen shrub which belongs to Fabaceae family. Carob tree is inherent to Mediterranean region such as Northern Africa, Southern Europe, larger Mediterranean islands, Northern Africa, Levant and Middle-East of Western Asia to Iran and Canary Islands and Macaronesia. It is cultivated for its edible pods and grown as an ornamental tree in gardens. Carob tree has the ability to tolerate heat and drought and is well adapted to Mediterranean climate. Carob tree is cultivated on marginal…

Black bean scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris (commonly called Black turtle bean, Dry bean), is a herbaceous and annual plant belonging to legume or bean family Fabaceae. It is originated in South and Central America and is cultivated widely in various parts of world for its edible beans. The beans are harvested and consumed immature. The varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris varieties are developed in both bush and twinning forms. Bush forms reach 1 meter tall and grow in erect leafy clumps. Twining forms grow upto 4 meters long and needs the support of poles or trellising. Plants possess trifoliate compound…

Breadfruit is a multipurpose species whose all parts are used. The trees of Breadfruit are known as the plants with highest food yield. Breadfruit prefers deep, well-drained, fertile soils ─ sandy-loams, sands, sandy clay loams, loams to sandy coralline soils. The tree is tolerable to salt and drought but is sensitive to cold. The trees measures 85 feet high and trunk measures more than 2 meters in diameter. Each tree could produce 50 to 150 fruits in a year. Fruits are oval, round and oblong which weighs about 12 pounds. It contains obovoid or rounded, irregularly compressed seeds measuring 1…

Rye is a crucial cereal crop found in cooler parts of northern and central Europe and Russia which is cultivated 4000 meters above sea level up to the Arctic Circle. Poland, Russia, Argentina, Germany, Canada, South Africa and United States are the broad area of production. Being extremely hardy, rye could grow in sandy soils having low fertility. It is tolerable to cold, drought and other adverse growing conditions. Though winter and spring biotypes of Rye exist, the world supply is obtained from winter varieties. Cereal rye is cultivated for forage, grain and hay. As cereal rye matures earlier in…

Red sandspurry also known as Common Sandspurry, Sandwor, Sabline Rouge and Red sand spurrey, is a plant species in pink family. It is inherent to Asia and Europe and could also be found on other continents such as South and North America and Australia. It could be grown in wide range of habitats. It is a perennial or annual herb which produce glandular or slender stem which measures 25 centimeters long. Leaves may be tipped with spines or hard points which may be accompanied by shiny white lance shaped stipules. Flowers are solitary which usually form in leaf axils and…

Chestnut is a group of eight or nine trees or shrubs which belongs to the family of beech and oak trees. Chestnut produces an edible nut which is commonly known as chestnut and is widely consumed all over the world. Chestnut is regarded to be both fruit and a nut because fruits are defined as the product of flower plant and most of the nuts lie into this category. Chestnut possesses mild sweet taste and is added to variety of dishes. Raw chestnuts have crunchy and hard texture which becomes softer after roasted or cooked. Japanese chestnut is a chestnut…

Butternut with its scientific name Juglans cinerea, is a deciduous tree belonging to walnut family called Juglandaceae and is native to Southeast Canada and Eastern United States. Periodically, Butternut is cultivated for the edible seeds produced by the species by the people of North America. Sometimes, butternut is cultivated for its timber in Denmark and Romania. Other common names from which Butternut is known by are: White walnut, Butternut, Lemon walnut, Butternussbaum, Nogal Blanco Americano, Douberre, Nogal Ceniciento, Noyer à Beurre, Noyer Blanc, Noyer de Beurre, Oil Nut and Noyer Cendré. Butter is also known as white walnut due to…

Glebionis coronaria commonly known as Crown Daisy, is the flowering plant species of daisy family and is inherent to Mediterranean region. It is naturalized and cultivated in East Asia and is scattered locations in North America. Crown Daisy is a leaf vegetable. Other common names include Chrysanthemum greens, Garland chrysanthemum, Edible chrysanthemum, Crown daisy, Chop suey green, Japanese-green, Antimonio, Kikuna, Mirabeles, Moya, Crown marigold, Crowndaisy and Garden chrysanthemum, Crown Daisy ‘Primrose Gem’. It is an annual plant which has hairless and erect stem and form numerous compound branches. It possess yellow ray florets which are grouped in small flower heads…

Catsup is the different spellings (or less common spelling) for Ketchup of the same condiment which has currently become a Westernized version of a condiment which was firstly introduced in late 17th century to European traders. In the Far East during their time trading, British sailors of 1600s introduced as taste for delicious treat which is presently known as ketchup and began to export it to the West. The term is believed to have derived from the Malay “kēhap” or Cantonese “k’ē chap” which refers to a type of fish sauce. The term catsup is used for various sauces. The…

Other common names for Black Plum are Jamun Fruit, Indian Blackberry, Damson Plum, Jambolan, Java Plum, Jambolan Plum, Portuguese Plum, Malabar Plum, Purple Plum, Jambu, Jambul, Jamun, Jambas, Kala jamun, Rajaman, Neredu, Naval, Jamali, Nerale, Java plum and Black berry. The scientific name of Black plum is Syzygium cumini. Naturally the tree grows in India, Himalayas, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Australia. It got introduced to Fiji, Cook Islands, Guam, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Florida, Hawaii, Palau, Niue, China, Tonga, Palau, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Christmas Island, India, Africa, South America and Caribbean. The tree is tall which usually grows from 5 to…

Citrus aurantiifolia also known a lime is a small tree or thorny shrub belonging to citrus family Rutaceae which was originated in Southeast Asia likely Malaysia and Indonesia. It is also cultivated in tropical areas from West Indies, South and Central America to China, India and parts of Africa for its fruit. Other member of genus Citrus includes citrons, oranges, lemon, pomelos, grapefruit and mandarins. The small tree has numerous sharp spines which is 1 cm long. An evergreen leaves are leathery, alternate, elliptic to oblong measuring 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) long with narrow winged stems.…

Clementine is one of the varieties of Citrus reticulate (Mandarin orange) which was named in 1902. It is a hybrid of sweet orange and sweet orange. It has deep orange skin with glossy and smooth appearance. Clementine contains seven to fourteen segments inside the skin. It is very easy to peel and they are mostly seedless. Due to this reason, sometimes it is called seedless tangerines. Occasionally it is known as Algerian tangerine. Usually they are sweet and juicy having less acid in comparison to oranges. The oil contains limonene, linalool, myrcene, α-pinene and various complex aromatics. Usually Clementine is…

Kanpyo is the trimmed flesh of gourd into thin strips which is dried. The flowers of gourd are white which appears on summer evening and perish overnight. Vines of gourd grow up to 20 meters in height and the flesh grows up to 6 to 7 kg. Originally, it was grown in region Osaka. Usually the gourd is harvested in between Late July and September. Bottle gourd is originated in tropical regions of Asia/Africa. Kanpyo is consumed traditionally in Japan. From ancient times, it has been eaten as food. It was preserved as refined food by upper classes in Edo…

Valerian with its scientific name Valeriana officinalis, is a perennial flowering plant having heads of sweetly scented white or pink flowers that blooms in summer. In 16th century, extracts of Valerian flower is used in perfumes. Inherent to Asia and Europe, Valerian is introduced into North America. It is a source of food by larvae of butterfly, grey pug and moth. This plant has got other common names such as Ail-Heal, Setwall, Amantilla, Setewale, Heliotrope, Capon’s Tail, Vandal Root, Valerian Root, NuVeg Valerian Root, Herbal Sure Valerian Root, Valerian Root Alcohol Free and Valerian Root Power. In herbal medicine and…

Southern prickly ash botanically called Zanthoxylum clava-herculis has other common names such as Toothache tree, Tingle tongue, Hercules’ club, Pepperwood, Percules-club pricklyash, Prickly Ash, Southern Prickly-ash, Fresno Espinoso del Sur, Prickly Ash, Sea Ash, Prickly Yellow Wood, Toothache Tree, Xanthoxylum, Zanthoxylum clava-herculis and Zanthoxylum. Southern Prickly Ash belongs to the genus which consists about 250 species of spiny, evergreen or deciduous trees and shrubs and usually occurs in subtropical and warm temperate regions worldwide. Many species are grown in various parts of world for medicinal, wood and culinary purposes. The tree of Southern Prickly Ash grows upto 10 to 17…

Peach with its botanical name Prunus persica is a fruit tree of Rosaceae family which is grown in warmer and temperate regions of Southern and Northern hemispheres. It belongs to the member of stone fruit family which also includes plums, apricots, cherries and nectarines having one large seed at the center of the fruit. The fruits are small to medium sized. The flesh of peach varies in color from orange or white to yellow. The glossy leaves are lance shaped and long pointed. The tree prefers well-drained and sandy or gravelly loam soils. The trees require full exposure of sun…

Mistletoe with its scientific name Viscum album is a small and woody shrub which reaches about 1 m in diameter. An inflorescence of 3 to 5 flowers is produced in the forks of branches. Flowers are pollinated by insects. Mistletoe has the constituents such as lectins, viscotoxins, biogenic amines, flavonoids and mucilages. Mistletoe is also known from these names such as All-Heal, Mystyldene, Devil’s Fuge, European mistletoe, Viscum, Birdlime and White-berry mistletoe. Mistletoe is the species of parasitic plants of Loranthaceae, Santalaceae and Misodendraceae family. The species are used for decorations during Christmas and are related with holiday tradition of…

Ilex paraguariensis also known as Yerba Mate, Paraguay Tea, Jesuit’s Tea, Ilex Species, Paraguayan Tea, St. Bartholomew’s tea, Ilex and Jesuit’s tea is a flowering tree whose leaves are used to brew tea and is popular in South America and Middle East. The leaves of Yerba Mate undergo several processing stages such as blanching, drying and aging of leaves. The processing conditions differ but the overall process remains same. Yerba Mate is an evergreen tree measuring about 15 meters tall with evergreen leaves of 7-11 cm long and 3-5.5 cm wide. The small flowers are greenish to white with four…

Meadowsweet is also named as Bridewort, Meadsweet, Dolloff, Meadow-Wort, Meadow Queen, Queen of the Meadow, Spireaea ulmaria, Lady of the Meadow, Pride of the Meadow, Dollof, Bridewort and Meadsweet. Its habitats include streams, marshes, wet deciduous woodland, riverside, swamps, damp meadows, railway banks, ditches, montane herb and damp roadsides. The herb belongs to the family Rosaceae. The term Filipendula is derived from two words: filum and pendulus that means hanging. Meadowsweet is native to West Asia and Europe. It is later introduced and cultivated in North America. However, it can sometimes persist and grow on north facing chalk grasslands which…

Scientifically known as Aloysia triphylla, Lemon Verbena is also referred as Lemon-Scented Verbena, Herb Louisa, Lemon Bee-Brush, Verveine Odorante and Luisa. The shrub is perennial that belongs to Verbenaceae family originated in Peru, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Bolivia and Brazil. In 18th century, this deciduous plant was imported from Spain’s South American Colonies to Europe. It was cultivated for its essential oil that was used in perfumes till lemon balms and lemon grass was substituted. In Northern regions, the plant is grown as an ornamental plant. Leaves are used to make teas and add flavor to alcoholic beverages. It is also…

Packera aurea also known as Golden Ragwort belongs to the Aster family Asteraceae. The common names of Golden Ragwort are Golden Senecio, Squaw Weed, Heart-leaved Groundsel, Liferoot, Golden Groundsel, Coughweed, Ragwort, Cocash Weed, Life Root, Grundy Swallow, Heart-Leaved Ragwort, Swamp Squawweed, Uncum, Waw weed, Uncum root, Female regulator, False valerian, Cocash weed, Staggerwort, Ragweed and St. James wort. The plant is short lived, weedy, perennial that grows upto the height of 6 inches or 2 feet. Basal leaves are cordate to orbicular measuring 2 inches across and 2 inches long. There are 2 to 3 alternate leaves on the stalk…

Hoarhound is a herbaceous and perennial plant commonly known from its common names such as Houndsbane, White Horehound, Marrubium, Common white horehound, Green Pompon Horehound, Seed of horus, eye of the star, bull’s blood, houndsbane, adorn, haran haran, blanc rubi, grand bonhomme and mapiochin. Belonging to the family Lamiaceae, this plant is also used for edible purposes. White Hoarhound is scientifically known as Marrubium vulgare. This plant has a long history of its use by humans though it lost its popularity over the years. It was used by an ancient Egyptians as the offering to the God of Morning Sun…

Lady’s Slipper commonly known as Cypripedium parviflorum, is found all over Canada and United States from Alaska to Georgia. It could be known from other several names such as Species Orchid, Cypripedium, Newfoundland Lady’s Slipper, Yellow lady’s slipper, Hairy yellow ladyslipper, Moccasin flower, Lady slipper, Slipper Orchid, American Valerian, Cypripède Acaule, Bleeding Heart, Cypripède Rose, Monkey Flower, Sabot de Vénus, Noah’s Ark, Sabot de la Vierge, Slipper Root, Shoe, Yellows and Venus’ Shoe. A flower is large with pale to dark yellow pouch like labellum with reddish spots on an interior. It has green or yellowish petals or sepals which…

Native to Central America, the West Indies and Florida, it could also be found in Texas, Mexico and Northern part of South America. Other common names for Jamaican Dogwood are Fish Poison Tree, Dogwood, Jamaican dogwood, Florida fishpoison tree, Fishfuddle, dogwood, Fish Fuddle Tree, Fish Poison, Fish-fuddle tree, Guam, ha’bin, May Bush and Maytree of the Creoles. Botanically called Piscida piscipula, Jamaican dogwood is a deciduous tree which grows from 12 to 15 meters in height and diameter of 46 to 118 cm. The tree has strong and vertical branches. The alternate leaves are pinnately compound and is 9-23 cm…

Hydrangea is a shrub which belongs to the family Hydrangeaceae that grows upto 5-6 feet high. The stems bear thin leaves of heart or oval shaped, sharply toothed and 6 inches long. The plant blooms flower from early to mid-summer. Flowers are creamy white arranged in loose and broad clusters. It has roughly branched, hard and tough roots. Its habitats are rocky stream banks, shaded ravines, low rocky ledges, bottoms of cliffs and bluffs. The plant is native to Southern New York, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Florida and Louisiana. It is also introduced to Massachusetts, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick…