1. In Brazil one of the most popular pizza toppings is peas. Yes, the little green pea. Well, did you know those peas pack a pretty powerful punch? (lots of p's)
They are not only a great protein source but they've got vitamin K, manganese, thiamin, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus and folate. However, their real superpower is that they have a myriad of potent antioxidants including high amounts of a polyphenol called coumestrol - this just may lower your risk of stomach cancer. So don't just roll those peas around on your plate - dive into them and enjoy their nutritional power.
2: When you buy Virgin Olive Oil you may not be getting exactly what you think. Yup about 70% of the olive oil sold is not actually pure. It's not that there is another oil added, but the labels lead you to believe you are getting 'virgin' or the initial pressing and that's the best oil to get. Now, in fact, that pure oil has a peppery taste and so the manufacturers would rather sell you oil that is smooth without the pepper - therefore it needs to be processed more. Sometimes the oil will include Lampante Virgin Olive Oil which is, in fact, the lowest grade of virgin olive oil and really not fit for human consumption. In fact, it was originally used as lamp oil but apparently, it takes that peppery taste away.
If you really want the 'good stuff' then you need to do your homework - as for me, I'd rather not use oil at all - it's still a processed food.
3. Did you realise that store-bought 100% 'real' orange juice is really 100% artificially flavoured to taste like oranges? You see to make orange juice at home you just squeeze the oranges right? Well to make it commercially you squeeze the oranges but then you have to strip out the oxygen and that's because you need the liquid to keep for up to a year without spoiling. But now there's no flavour, so they put the artificial flavour back in.
4. Get prepared for this one if you're from the West. There is an amusement park in Tokyo, Japan that offers Raw Horse Flesh flavoured ice-cream. I kid you not - there are actual chunks of horse in this ice-cream. And other flavours on offer are cow tongue, octopus and squid.
5. How's your love of cheese? hopefully, you're vegan and don't eat it - but if you do. this is going to tickle the back of your throat. Casu Marzu is a cheese found in Sardinia that is purposely infested with maggots. Casu Marzu literally translates to 'rotten cheese' and it's classified as the world most dangerous cheese.
It's made from sheep's milk, soaked in brine, smoked and left to ripen outside in the open, uncovered which allows cheese flies to lay eggs inside it. The eggs hatch into thousands of white transparent maggots and by feeding on the cheese they produce enzymes that promote fermentation and cause fats that make the cheese decompose.
Locals will tell you the spicy, creamy cheese is only okay to eat if the maggots are still moving because once the maggots are dead the cheese has gone bad - decayed to a point that it's too toxic for human consumption. It's actually been declared illegal and not in compliance with EU hygienic standards - ha - I wonder why????
So there you have the 5 fascinating food facts - trust you have enjoyed.
They are not only a great protein source but they've got vitamin K, manganese, thiamin, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus and folate. However, their real superpower is that they have a myriad of potent antioxidants including high amounts of a polyphenol called coumestrol - this just may lower your risk of stomach cancer. So don't just roll those peas around on your plate - dive into them and enjoy their nutritional power.
2: When you buy Virgin Olive Oil you may not be getting exactly what you think. Yup about 70% of the olive oil sold is not actually pure. It's not that there is another oil added, but the labels lead you to believe you are getting 'virgin' or the initial pressing and that's the best oil to get. Now, in fact, that pure oil has a peppery taste and so the manufacturers would rather sell you oil that is smooth without the pepper - therefore it needs to be processed more. Sometimes the oil will include Lampante Virgin Olive Oil which is, in fact, the lowest grade of virgin olive oil and really not fit for human consumption. In fact, it was originally used as lamp oil but apparently, it takes that peppery taste away.
If you really want the 'good stuff' then you need to do your homework - as for me, I'd rather not use oil at all - it's still a processed food.
3. Did you realise that store-bought 100% 'real' orange juice is really 100% artificially flavoured to taste like oranges? You see to make orange juice at home you just squeeze the oranges right? Well to make it commercially you squeeze the oranges but then you have to strip out the oxygen and that's because you need the liquid to keep for up to a year without spoiling. But now there's no flavour, so they put the artificial flavour back in.
4. Get prepared for this one if you're from the West. There is an amusement park in Tokyo, Japan that offers Raw Horse Flesh flavoured ice-cream. I kid you not - there are actual chunks of horse in this ice-cream. And other flavours on offer are cow tongue, octopus and squid.
5. How's your love of cheese? hopefully, you're vegan and don't eat it - but if you do. this is going to tickle the back of your throat. Casu Marzu is a cheese found in Sardinia that is purposely infested with maggots. Casu Marzu literally translates to 'rotten cheese' and it's classified as the world most dangerous cheese.
It's made from sheep's milk, soaked in brine, smoked and left to ripen outside in the open, uncovered which allows cheese flies to lay eggs inside it. The eggs hatch into thousands of white transparent maggots and by feeding on the cheese they produce enzymes that promote fermentation and cause fats that make the cheese decompose.
Locals will tell you the spicy, creamy cheese is only okay to eat if the maggots are still moving because once the maggots are dead the cheese has gone bad - decayed to a point that it's too toxic for human consumption. It's actually been declared illegal and not in compliance with EU hygienic standards - ha - I wonder why????
So there you have the 5 fascinating food facts - trust you have enjoyed.
~~ Happy Day. ~~ 