Tag: Culinary Compendium


  • Labrador Tea: Rebel’s Brew

    Common Name: Labrador Tea Alternative names are Hudson Bay Tea, Indian Tea, Marsh Tea, Wild Rosemary, Greenland Tea, Muskeg Tea, and Bog Labrador Tea. Scientific Name: Rhododendron groenlandicum, R. tomentosum, and R. neoglandulosum (regional variants) Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources…

  • Salep: The Snow Orchid

    Salep: The Snow Orchid

    Common Name: Salep Alternative names are Sahlab, Sahlep, and Saloop Scientific Name: Orchis mascula and Orchis militaris Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Salep is a starchy, fragrant flour made from the dried tubers of wild orchids. Historically revered…

  • Huitlacoche: The Mexican Truffle

    Though often considered a blight in industrial agriculture, chefs and foodies consider it a delicacy.

  • Mastic Gum: Tears of Chios

    Common Name: Mastic Gum The name “mastic” comes from the Greek “mastikhan”, meaning “to knash the teeth”, a reference to its early use as chewing gum. Alternative names are Chios Mastiha, Mastix, and Arabic Gum (not to be confused with Gum Arabic). Scientific Name: Pistacia lentiscus var. chia Editorial Note: This entry is part of…

  • Wattleseed: Bush Coffee

    Wattleseed: Bush Coffee

    Common Name: Wattleseed Alternative names are Acacia Seed and Bush Seed Scientific Name: Acacia spp. (commonly Acacia victoriae, Acacia coriacea, and Acacia sophorae) Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Wattleseeds have been a part of the indigenous diet for…

  • Celtic Salt: Salt of Brittany

    Common Name: Celtic Salt Although it is harvested in modern-day France, the name “Celtic salt” recalls the Celtic people of Brittany, who first systematized salt marsh cultivation in the region. Alternate names are Sel Gris and Grey Sea Salt. Scientific Name: Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing…

  • Apple: The Forbidden Fruit

    Common Name: Apple Scientific Name: Malus domestica Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Apples are members of the rose family and are among the oldest domesticated fruits. They likely originated in the mountains of Central Asia, particularly Southern Kazakhstan,…

  • Nutmeg: The Spice of Dreams

    Common Name: Nutmeg Scientific Name: Myristica fragrans Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Nutmeg is the dried seed of a tropical evergreen tree, also the source of mace, native to the Banda Islands, a small cluster of volcanic islets…

  • Orange: The Golden Apple

    Common Name: Orange Scientific Name: Citrus sinensis Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Oranges are not a naturally occuring fruit. Instead, they are a man-made hybrid originating from ancient crossings of the pomelo (Citrus maxima) and the mandarin (Citrus…

  • Alaea Salt: Hawaiian Red Salt

    Alaea salt is a traditional Hawaiian sea salt distinguished by its rust-red hue. The alluring color results from mixing unrefined sea salt with ‘alaea, a naturally occurring volcanic clay rich in iron oxide.