Fun Facts

Fun Fact! Vanilla, the second most expensive spice after saffron, comes from the cured pods of a tropical orchid and requires hand pollination outside its native range.

Fun Fact! Granny Smith apples began as a seedling on Maria Ann Smith’s property in Australia; local orchardists kept the variety going, and it was added to the Department of Agriculture’s export list in 1895.

Fun Fact! Molasses, a sugar refining byproduct, has about 60 calories per tablespoon and more nutrients than other liquid sugars, yet still counts as an added sugar.

Fun Fact! Energy drinks are regulated as beverages and contain about 10 mg caffeine per ounce; energy shots, marketed as supplements, contain roughly 100 mg per ounce.

Fun Fact! Paris food brand Michel et Augustin set a Guinness World Record this summer with a 1,103.69-pound charcuterie board of 7 meats, 7 cheeses, and 11 fruits and vegetables.

Fun Fact! Bromelain is a group of protein-digesting enzymes that has been promoted as a supplement for sinusitis, osteoarthritis, and other purposes—in 2022 the FDA approved a drug containing bromelain to treat serious burns.

Fun Fact! Belonging to the mulberry family and native to an area ranging from Asiatic Turkey to northern India, figs offer calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron.

Fun Fact! Lentils (Lens culinaris) are among the oldest cultivated foods—dating to the Bronze Age—and are rich in protein, fiber, iron, and B vitamins.

Fun Fact! Jelly, jam, and preserves differ by fruit content: jelly uses only strained juice, jam keeps most fruit solids, and preserves use the most whole fruit, chopped and combined with sugar and syrup.

Fun Fact! The CDC lists oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) and 2-undecanone as plant-derived ingredients that can be found in EPA-registered insect repellents.

Fun Fact! A 1962 bark sample from the Pacific yew, collected by a USDA botanist in Washington State, led researchers to isolate paclitaxel. That compound became Taxol, now used to treat breast, ovarian, and several other cancers.

Fun Fact! Quinine, tonic water's key bitter ingredient, comes from the Cinchona tree and served as the only Western malaria treatment for 300 years before synthetic alternatives emerged.

Fun Fact! Producing one gallon of maple syrup requires about 40 gallons of sap—and late-season syrup has potential as a sweetening agent.

Fun Fact! The Mexican city of Tancítaro set a Guinness World Record with nearly 15,000 pounds of guacamole made by 800 cooks.

Fun Fact! Miraculin, a glycoprotein in miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum), temporarily makes acidic foods taste sweet.

Fun Fact! The cherry family includes over 1,000 distinct varieties that vary in appearance and tartness.

Fun Fact! Asparagus grown underground produces a white color and delicate flavor.

Fun Fact! When exposed to sunlight or UV-light, mushrooms can produce vitamin D.

Fun Fact! Because of true wasabi’s high price and limited availability, Western wasabi is usually made of horseradish with colorants added.

Fun Fact! The berries of juniper shrubs are actually seed cones, which are used in the production of gin.

Fun Fact! Bay laurel leaves (Laurus nobilis) flavor food, offer traditional medicinal benefits, and historically crowned victorious ancient Greek athletes.

Fun Fact! The world’s longest chocolate sculpture is a 181.3-foot-long train, composed of 1 locomotive and 22 carriages, all made out of Belgian chocolate.

Fun Fact! Herbs come from the leaves of herbaceous plants, while spices come from roots, flowers, fruits, seeds, or bark.

Fun Fact! The most recent major food allergen to be recognized by the US is sesame.

Fun Fact! When classified botanically, pumpkins, avocados, and cucumbers are examples of fruits that are commonly mistaken for vegetables.

Fun Fact! Coriander is an example of a plant that can produce both a spice and an herb.

Fun Fact! Root beer was traditionally made with sassafras root, wintergreen, or sarsaparilla, as well as juniper and birch flavorings. Click to learn more!

Fun Fact! One ounce of almonds contains 6 g of protein, 3.5 g of fiber, and 48% of the daily value of vitamin E. Click to learn more!