Common Name: Tea The name comes from the word “t’e” (character: 茶; pronounced: tay) in the Amoy dialect, which is spoken in Fujian province in southeastern China. This region, around Xiamen, a historic tea port once known as Amoy, is where the Dutch first encountered the beverage. The Mandarin word for tea is “cha”, which…
Common Name: Nettle Scientific Name: Urtica dioica The scientific name “Urtica” comes from the Latin word “urere” meaning “burn”, a trait that gives the plant its common name, Stinging Nettle. Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Nettle is a…
Common Name: Sweet Potato Scientific Name: Ipomoea batatas Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: The sweet potato is a member of the morning glory family and is native to South America, where it has been cultivated for approximately 5,000…
Common Name: Mountain Sorrel An alternate name is Arctic Sorrel. Scientific Name: Oxyria digyna The scientific name “Oxyria” comes from the Greek word “oxys”, meaning “sharp” or “acidic”, a reference to its sour taste. Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are…
Common Name: Dulse The English name is derived from the seaweed’s Gaelic name “duileasc.” Scientific Name: Palmaria palmata (formerly Rhodymenia palmata) The scientific name comes from the Latin word “palma”, meaning hand. This is in reference to the hand-like shape of the seaweed. Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient…
Common Name: Sea Grapes Scientific Name: Caulerpa lentillifera Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: Sea grapes are a type of green algae native to the Pacific coastal regions of Asia. Traditionally, it was wild-harvested, however, it first became commercially…
Common Name: Crowberry Alternate names include Moss Berry or Blackberry (not to be confused with the common blackberry, which is Rubus fruticosus) Scientific Name: Empetrum nigrum The scientific name comes from the Greek words “en” and “petros”, meaning “on a rock”, and the Latin “nigrum”, meaning “black” and referencing the color of the ripe fruit.…
Common Name: Coriander The name comes from the Greek “koriannon”, possibly related to “koris”, meaning bedbug, a reference to the strong scent of the fresh leaves, commonly known as cilantro. Scientific Name: Coriandrum sativum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are…
Common Name: Long Pepper Scientific Name: Piper longum Editorial Note: This entry is part of The Culinary Compendium’s ongoing ingredient archive and will be expanded as new sources are examined. History: The history of long pepper is often closely tied to the history of black pepper, as they share similar origins in the Western Ghats of…