The Rose Apple (Syzygium jambos)
The Rose Apple, Syzygium jambos is a plant in the Myrtaceae family – the Myrtles. The plant which used to be known scientifically as Eugenia […]
FOOD AND DRINK
The Nutritional Benefits Of Peaches
Peach, like any fruit is healthy for all of us. Recent work shows that peaches contain three anthocyanins and 14 non-coloured phenolics. All these compounds […]
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan)
To many of us in the west, Jiaogulan is not a name on many people’s lips. It is a traditional food and tea from China […]
Cooking Rice From Italy: Arborio, Carnaroli & Vialone Nano
A risotto is one of the sublime dishes to come out of Italy. One of the key ingredients is rice but not any ordinary rice. […]
Tonka Beans
If you watch MasterChef on UK television, I’m sure you will have heard tonka beans mentioned a few times. These are an exotic ingredient that […]
Saffron – A Natural Food Colouring And Flavouring
If you are lucky enough to visit Turkey or Iran, or even Saffron Walden, you might be lucky enough to see fields of purple crocus. […]
Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts have a number of health benefits, not least of all being that they are selenium-rich and have been attributed with:- improving heart health […]
Regulations On Herbal Medicinal Products In The EU
The regulations surrounding herbal medicinal products are based on scientific opinions that relate to both herbal substances and the preparations that are derived from them. […]
Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata)
Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata) is a member of the Fabaceae family. It grows mainly in India, south Asia and Africa. It is commercially grown for […]
The Mulberry, Its Wine And Its Nutritional Benefits
Mulberries are often seen on small trees in parks and gardens. If you are lucky enough you may see them growing on wild mountain passes. […]
Cassia Bark
Cassia bark is an aromatic bark that looks rather similar to cinnamon. The bark appears darker however, is much thicker and coarser and in many […]
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is ideal for sensitive skin and is also suitable for delicate baby and children’s skin. It has a slightly marzipan scented oil […]
The Health Benefits Of Okra
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a widely cultivated and consumed vegetable in tropical and subtropical countries. It is also known as bhindi or lady’s fingers, in […]
Glycine
Glycine is the simplest amino-acid in the body but possible one of its most important. It has a broad role in many metabolic functions:- muscle, […]
The Lowdown On Gummy Bears
Introduction Children especially love the packets of chewy, colourful and sweet gummy bears. These have a long history in modern confectionary. They were originally invented […]
Carnauba Wax
Carnauba Wax is a widely used glazing agent and polish in a variety of applications from food, through to cosmetics and as a general polish. […]
Candelilla Wax
Glazing agents are often used to coat confectionary and cakes to make them more appealing. One of the glazing agents in common use which includes […]
Beeswax
Most of us have at sometime been treated to eating honey, still with the beeswax in which it was first naturally contained. For those who […]
Shakuyakukanzoto
Shakuyakukanzoto (SKT) is a traditional Japanese kampo medicine, which consists of two herbal medicines, namely Paeoniae radix and Glycyrrhizae radix. SKT has been used to […]