Food

5 Reasons Why You Should Ditch Coffee for Matcha

Have you ever tried matcha? When people want to work longer hours, many choose to drink coffee to help them stay alert. However, the caffeine in the coffee comes with its own set of disadvantages. For instance, it can increase the blood sugar level in the body as well as trigger a spike in the ...

Raven Montmorency

Powdered matcha.

Xôi, Phở, and Other Lip-Smacking Vietnamese Breakfast Dishes

Vietnam’s traditional breakfast dishes are full of flavor and focus on providing energy to get you through a hard day at work. Every bite of a Vietnamese breakfast gives you a new experience, whether it be the savory taste of meat, the earthy savors of herbs and fresh ingredients, or something else. Here is a ...

Raven Montmorency

A Short History of Japan’s Favorite 7-Flavor Shichimi Spice

“Variety is the spice of life.” You must have heard this expression many times. Turns out, it is truly more than just a catchphrase. It can also be applied to the foods we eat. Research shows that people who incorporate a variety of food in their diets are healthier, happier, and also live longer. Japanese ...

Raven Montmorency

A bowl of the Japanese seven-flavor Shichimi Togarashi spice.

A Simple Guide to the Flavors of Taoyuan

Have you ever heard of the “Flower Kingdom”? People who have visited it say that this land blooms with culture. And the unparalleled natural vistas are the stuff of dreams. It sounds like a fantasy land, but it’s not. “Flower Kingdom” is a nickname for Taoyuan, a narrow-shaped city located in the northwestern part of ...

Emma Lu

A large bowl of Chinese food.

Crab and Pork Dumplings (Story + Recipe)

Dumplings are an ancient food and many regions around the world have them in some form or another as part of their national cuisine. There are also numerous legends surrounding the origin of the delicious dough balls. The beauty Xishi According to a Chinese tale, eating dumplings started in remembrance of Fairy Jiao. In the ...

Emma Lu

A basket of dumplings.

Famous Foods of the Ancient Chinese Capital Xi’an

One of the “Four Great Ancient Capitals of China,” Xi’an was the most important city during Tang, Sui, Qin, Western Zhou, and Western Han dynasties. Then called Chang’an, this is where the Silk Road started, and where you can find the Terracotta Army. With such a rich history, you can expect to see some of ...

Raven Montmorency

A bowl of mutton soup.

How-to: Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup

Saltibarsciai is a cold beet soup from Lithuania that is usually prepared during summertime. People typically eat it together with roast pork, sandwiches, and barbecue. However, the dish will easily go with almost anything. Once prepared, it can be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator. Beet soup recipe To prepare Lithuanian cold ...

Raven Montmorency

A bowl of Lithuanian cold beet soup.

Breakfasts From Around the World: Portuguese Egg Tarts of Macau

We will explore a popular breakfast in the Chinese region of Macau — Portuguese egg tarts with creamy custard filling and flaky pastry. The first meal of the day: that which breaks the fast. Breakfast doesn’t necessarily need to be in the morning. It’s whenever you break the fast. It could be in the afternoon ...

Armin Auctor

Portuguese egg tarts.

7 Foods From China You Should Avoid Eating

America imports a lot of its foods from China. Unfortunately, many of these items do not actually meet proper safety standards. The lax regulatory oversight in China encourages businesses to cut down on safety standards to maximize their profits. Since industrial-style farming is mostly unregulated, the waterways end up becoming too polluted with pesticides, waste, ...

Armin Auctor

A basket of apples.

Why Raw Milk Cheese Is Restricted in the U.S.

Raw milk cheese is made with milk that has not been subjected to the pasteurization process. According to USDA food consumption laws, raw milk cheese is prohibited for sale unless it has been aged for a minimum of 60 days at a temperature of 35°F. Some see this law as completely unnecessary since a number ...

Raven Montmorency

Wheels of cheese aging.