Food, SPI-VOD
The necessity of food for survival is something that all humans have in common, but the trends of diet and food consumption can vary considerably from region to region. Find out more about the ingredients, dishes, and drinks that fuel people around the world.
Food Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Are you looking for a cocktail that offers a bit more than your usual gin & tonic? Maybe it’s not the drink but......
spirulina, Any cyanobacteria in the genus Spirulina. A traditional food source in parts of Africa and Mexico, spirulina......
sponge candy, a crunchy, bite-size, chocolate-covered crystalline candy. Much like malt balls, it has a crispy......
spoon, an implement consisting of a small shallow bowl-shaped receptacle supported by a handle, used for eating,......
squash, (genus Cucurbita), genus of flowering plants in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), many of which are widely......
sriracha, bright-red hot sauce of Thai origin made of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar that has......
star anise, dry fruits of the star anise tree (Illicium verum), used as a spice and source of pharmaceutical chemicals.......
star apple, (Chrysophyllum cainito), tropical American tree, of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), native to the......
steak and kidney pie, a traditional British dish consisting of diced steak, onion, and kidney—typically from a......
steak and kidney pudding, a traditional British dish consisting of diced steak, onion, and kidney—generally from......
steak frites, a simple dish of beef steak alongside strips of deep-fried potato, commonly known as french fries.......
steak tartare, dish made of chopped or minced raw beefsteak bound by raw egg yolk and seasoned with mustard, capers,......
stevia (sweetener), sweetener made from the leaves of the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana and used as a......
stew, dish of meat, poultry, or fish, usually with vegetables, cooked in liquid in a closed vessel over low heat.......
sticky toffee pudding, a classic British dessert consisting of a dark, dense sponge cake made with chopped dates......
Stilton, classic English blue cheese made from cow’s milk, named for the village in Huntingdonshire where, according......
stinging nettle, (Urtica dioica), weedy perennial plant of the nettle family (Urticaceae), known for its stinging......
stirrup cup, originally a drink offered to a man mounted on horseback and about to depart for the hunt; now, the......
Paul Storr was a goldsmith particularly noted for his outstanding craftsmanship in the execution of richly ornamented......
stout, dark, heavy-bodied beer popular in Great Britain and Ireland. Stouts are stronger versions of mild ale.......
strawberry, (genus Fragaria), genus of more than 20 species of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae) and......
stroopwafel, a popular Dutch treat similar to a cookie, featuring two thin wafflelike wafers with a sweet filling.......
sucket fork, small metal utensil used for eating sweetmeats, or sucket, with a two- or three-pronged fork at one......
sucrose, organic compound, colourless sweet-tasting crystals that dissolve in water. Sucrose (C12H22O11) is a disaccharide;......
sugar, any of numerous sweet, colourless, water-soluble compounds present in the sap of seed plants and the milk......
sugar beet, (Beta vulgaris), one of the four cultivated forms of the plant Beta vulgaris of the amaranth family......
sukiyaki, in Japanese cuisine, a dish of beef and vegetables prepared in the nabemono (one-pot) style. It is a......
surströmming, pungent, fermented herring of Swedish origin. Neither the name, which means “sour herring,” nor the......
sushi, a staple rice dish of Japanese cuisine, consisting of cooked rice flavoured with vinegar and a variety of......
Swan Service, set of porcelain tableware made at the Meissen factory in Germany between 1737 and 1741 by Johann......
sweet potato, (Ipomoea batatas), food plant of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), native to tropical America.......
sweetbread, type of offal, or variety meat, deriving from the thymus or pancreas of a young animal (such as a calf......
sweetener, any of various natural and artificial substances that provide a sweet taste in foods and beverages.......
sweetsop, (Annona squamosa), small tree or shrub of the custard apple family (Annonaceae). Native to the West Indies......
Gustavus Swift was the founder of the meatpacking firm Swift & Company and promoter of the railway refrigerator......
tabasco, (Capsicum frutescens), hot red pepper in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Tabasco is a cultivar of......
Tabasco sauce, spicy condiment, of American origin, made of hot chilies, vinegar, and salt. It is arguably the......
tabbouleh, herb salad of Middle Eastern origin that primarily consists of parsley, bulgur, tomatoes, and other......
tableware, utensils used at the table for holding, serving, and handling food and drink. Tableware includes various......
taco, an internationally popular hand-sized food item of Mexican origin combining seasoned meat, vegetables, and......
taffy, flavoured syrup candy of Europe and the Americas that is cooked and then rigorously worked during cooling......
tagine, North African cooking vessel consisting of a flat rimmed dish and a tall conical lid. The term tagine also......
tahini, paste of crushed sesame seeds that is widely used in Middle Eastern cooking. Tahini mixed with garlic,......
tamale, in Latin American cuisine, a small steamed cake of dough made from corn (maize). In the preparation of......
tamarind, (Tamarindus indica), evergreen tree of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to tropical Africa. It is widely......
tandoori chicken, a dish of roasted chicken marinated in yogurt and generously spiced, giving the meat its trademark......
tandoori cookery, an Indian method of cooking over a charcoal fire in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. Shaped......
tangerine, (Citrus reticulata), small thin-skinned variety of orange belonging to the mandarin orange species of......
tankard, drinking vessel for ale or beer, widely used in northern Europe (especially Scandinavia, Germany, and......
tapa, a Spanish appetizer, served hot or cold, that is typically eaten at bars with a drink intended to complement......
tapioca, a preparation of cassava root starch used as a food, in bread or as a thickening agent in liquid foods,......
taro, (Colocasia esculenta), herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae) and its edible rootlike corm. Taro is......
tarragon, bushy, aromatic perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, the dried leaves and flowering tops of which......
tea, beverage produced by steeping in freshly boiled water the young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant, Camellia......
tea and coffee service, set of vessels and implements for making and serving tea and coffee, the items often of......
teff, (Eragrostis tef), annual cereal grass, grown for its tiny nutritious seeds. Teff is native to Ethiopia and......
tempeh murni, food made of soybeans that have been fermented in plastic; it originated in Indonesia. Many different......
tempura, cooking technique of Japanese origin that involves dipping fish, shellfish, meat, or vegetables in a light......
tequila, distilled liquor, usually clear in colour and unaged, that is made from the fermented juice of the Mexican......
teriyaki, in Japanese cuisine, foods grilled with a highly flavoured glaze of soy sauce and sake or mirin (sweet......
Texas barbecue, seasoned smoked meats—specifically beef brisket, pork ribs, and sausage—associated with Texas.......
thyme, (Thymus vulgaris), pungent herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) known for the aroma and flavour of its dried......
ti, (genus Cordyline), genus of tropical trees and shrubs in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Asia,......
tiramisu, dessert, of Italian origin, that blends layers of espresso and liqueur-soaked sponge cake with a filling......
tofu, soft, relatively flavourless food product made from soybeans. Tofu is an important source of protein in the......
Tokaji Aszú, a full-bodied sweet dessert wine made from late-ripened grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, a mold......
Tokay, famous, usually sweet white wine of Hungary, made from the Hungarian Furmint grape. The wine derives its......
tomatillo, (Physalis philadelphica), annual species of ground cherry of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and......
tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for......
tortellini, a ring-shaped Italian pasta stuffed with cheese or meat that is most traditionally served in broth......
tortilla, round, thin, flat bread of Mexico made from unleavened cornmeal or, less commonly, wheat flour. Traditionally,......
tossa jute, (Corchorus olitorius), annual herbaceous plant in the mallow family (Malvaceae), cultivated as a source......
Tostada, a crispy fried tortilla, often spread with refried beans or guacamole and topped with vegetables and other......
tourtière, a double-crusted meat pie that is likely named for a shallow pie dish still used for cooking and serving......
trans fat, fat produced from the industrial process of hydrogenation, in which molecular hydrogen (H2) is added......
trencher, originally, a thick slice of bread used as a primitive form of plate for eating and for slicing meat......
trifle, a common English dessert traditionally consisting of sponge cake soaked in brandy, sherry, or white wine......
tripe, stomach of a ruminant consumed as food. Tripe usually comes from an ox or calf, although also from sheep......
trivet, stand or support for utensils before or on the fire. Usually made of wrought iron, the most common variety,......
Tea is a beloved drink all over the world. It is one of the most consumed beverages, second only to water. You......
truffle, (genus Tuber), edible subterranean fungus, prized as a food delicacy. True truffles are in the genus Tuber......
tureen, covered container, sometimes made to rest on a stand or dish, from which liquids, generally soup or sauce,......
Turkish delight, jellied confection with origins in the late 18th century. This soft jewel-like sugar treat became......
turmeric, (Curcuma longa), perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family, the tuberous rhizomes (underground......
turnip, (Brassica rapa, variety rapa), hardy biennial plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae), cultivated for......
turnover, individual pie formed by folding a piece of pastry in half over a filling. The open edges are pressed......
turtle soup, a stewlike soup made with turtle meat, common in Asia and in Creole cuisine in the United States.......
Ukemochi no Kami, (Japanese: “Goddess Who Possesses Food”), in Shintō mythology, the goddess of food. She is also......
ultra-processed food (UPF), any of a variety of industrially produced foods that contain or are made primarily......
vaca frita, a Cuban dish of pan-fried shredded flank or skirt steak that is served with sautéed white onions, rice,......
vanilla, (genus Vanilla), any member of a group of tropical climbing orchids (family Orchidaceae) and the flavoring......
veal, meat of calves slaughtered between 3 and 14 weeks, delicate in flavour, pale grayish white in colour, firm......
Vegemite, dark-brown, nutrient-rich paste made of extract of yeast and vegetables and widely enjoyed in Australia......
vegetable, in the broadest sense, any kind of plant life or plant product, namely “vegetable matter”; in common,......
vegetable oil, any of various fatty oils derived from vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits, and cereal grains. Examples......
vegetable processing, preparation of vegetables for use by humans as food. Vegetables consist of a large group......
venison, (from Latin venatus, “to hunt”), the meat from any kind of deer; originally, the term referred to any......
vermouth, wine-based fortified drink flavoured with aromatic herbs. The name derives from the German Vermut, or......
vinegar, sour liquid that is made by the fermentation of any of numerous dilute alcoholic liquids into a liquid......
vodka, distilled liquor, clear and colourless and without definite aroma or taste, ranging in alcoholic content......