10 Astonishing Food Facts to Impress Any Foodie. Food – the universal language that brings us all together. But how well do we really know the cuisine we crave? From the everyday ingredients in our pantries to the exotic dishes on restaurant menus, food is full of fascinating secrets and surprising stories. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or just a curious cook, get ready to have your mind blown by these 10 astonishing food facts. From the shocking truth about your favorite snacks to the incredible science behind cooking techniques, these bite-sized tidbits are sure to impress even the most discerning palates. So, let’s dig in and uncover the amazing truths that will change the way you think about food forever!
Amazing food facts
1. Coffee beans aren’t actually beans – they’re berries.
Although they look a lot like beans, coffee “is actually the seed, or pit, of the fruit that grows on coffee trees. Like apples, oranges, and pears, coffee fruit grows from trees and produces seeds that become aromatic beans after the process of drying, ‘pulping’, and roasting. In its natural untouched state, a coffee fruit looks almost like a cherry or grape.
2. Pineapples can take two to three years to grow.
Pineapples are fruits that are commonly available throughout the world. While they seem like they can be bought in all seasons, growing pineapple is extremely time-consuming. The pineapple plant only flowers at full maturity, which can take two to three years. Apart from that, each pineapple plant can only flower and fruit once, but the main plant usually produces offsets once it begins to flower.
3. Decaf coffee and hot chocolate have almost the same amounts of caffeine.
In reality, there’s not a significant amount of caffeine in chocolate but it does have less caffeine than coffee, esperado, and mochas. According to the USDA National Nutrient Database, a cup of hot chocolate has 7.44 milligrams of caffeine, whereas a single cup of brewed coffee has 96 milligrams. Decaffeinated coffee contains caffeine between 2 and 12 milligrams depending on the brand.
The honey you know
4. Honey can last forever if stored properly.
Honey is apparently not just a superfood but something that can last forever if you store it under the right circumstances. If honey is left out, unsealed in a humid environment, then it will expire but according to the Smithsonian Magazine, as long as the lid stays on it and no water is added to it, honey will not go bad. In 2015, archaeologists discovered a 3,000-year-old honey while excavating tombs in Egypt. Surprisingly, the honey was still edible.
5. Bananas can aid in curing your hangover.
You become hungover because you are dehydrated and lose electrolytes like potassium and sodium. Since bananas are rich in potassium, they can help replenish your body’s stores. Healthline reports that a medium banana contains 12% of the daily value (DV) for this nutrient.
6. The cheapest item at Trader Joe’s is bananas. They cost 19 cents each and there is a reason behind it.
Back in the day, TJ’s used to sell bananas by the pound. The store packed bananas in bags of four or five, making it inconvenient for anyone wanting to buy just a few.
7. Mosquitoes are actually attracted to people who have recently consumed a banana.
Certain things about us draw mosquitoes towards us. For instance, studies show that eating bananas could be one thing that puts us on the radar of nearby mosquitoes. According to a 2018 study published in the Library of Medicine, mosquitoes were more attracted to people who ate bananas. During the controlled study, participants were given bananas and grapes, and the mosquitoes favored the participants who consumed bananas over grapes. “These results support the hypothesis that diet plays an important role in mediating host attractiveness to anopheline mosquitoes,” the study said.
What do you know about allspice and food coloring?
8. Artificial food coloring can trigger hyperactivity in young ones.
A recent California EPA Study discovered that products with synthetic food dyes, like Red 40 or yellow 6, may increase or contribute to hyperactivity in young ones. Scientists at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded that the artificial food coloring levels determined to be safe by the Food and Drug Administration are too high. Furthermore, the scientists reviewed 27 human clinical trials and cell studies to shed light on how food dyes impact human health.
9. Allspice isn’t a mix of other spices.
Although it smells like nutmeg and cinnamon, Allspice is actually a fruit that’s picked, dried, and sold either as whole “berries” or ground up into its own spice. Although it’s possible to grow Allspice trees in your region, they do require a tropical or subtropical climate. You’ll need a greenhouse if you don’t live in a warm climate, as the tree only bears fruit under specific conditions.
10. Pomegranates grow on trees.
The pomegranate is a fruit that derives its name from the medieval Latin Ponum “apple” and granatum “seeded”. More so, pomegranate is native to a region from modern-day Iran through Afghanistan and Pakistan to northern India. Today, it is widely cultivated throughout the Middle East and Caucasus region, north and tropical Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, the drier parts of Southeast Asia, and parts of the Mediterranean Basin. Also, farmers cultivate it in parts of Arizona and California.
