The banana is a common name for a type of herbaceous plant, as well as the name for the fruit that they produce. Although we normally see bananas as being yellow, they actually come in a variety of sizes and colours when they are ripe – including purple and red. The bananas that we normally
The tomato is a plant which bears edible red fruit. Originally from South America, it was spread around the world due to the Spanish colonization of the Americas. Nowadays, it is one of the world’s most popular ingredients in cooking and there are now many varieties grown, either in backyards or in greenhouses. Tomatoes are
A famous type of gourd that is widely cultivated is the cucumber. It is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up on supporting frames and have thing and spiraling tendrils. It has large leaves which form a kind of canopy over the fruit. A cucumber plant A cucumber is cylindrical in
The Chili pepper is a fruit that is from the Capsicum genus. Although technically the fruit of capsicums are called berries, peppers are considered vegetables. They were originally from the Americas. After the Columbian Exchange took place, numerous cultivars of the chili pepper spread across the world for both medicinal and food purposes. Hot chili
Carrot called Daucus Carota in Latin is a root vegetable. Believe it or not, although the carrot is usually found in an orange color, there are also purple, red, white, and yellow varieties. When the carrot is still fresh, it has a crispy texture. The suitable part to be eaten of carrot is a taproot.
Basil or its scientific name, Ocimum basilicum, was originally found in the country of Iran, India or other tropical atmosphere in Asia more than 5,000 years ago. Basil comes with varieties of types where each and every one of them has their own unique smell, flavor and health benefits. Basil is a plant which is
Oregano was scientifically named Origanum vulgare by Carolus Linnaeus and is part of the mint family. It is a perennial herb which is native to warm temperate environments in Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. A stalk of Italian Oregano Oregano can grow between 20 to 80 cm tall, and have opposite leaves that are about
The Nidulariaceae or also known as bird’s nest fungi where its bodies look a lot like tiny egg-filled birds’ nests complete with tiny “eggs”. The plant feeds on decomposing organic matter such as wood and in the surrounding soils enriched with wood chips or bark mulch. The Nidulariaceae is segregate into five different genera within
Cordyceps belongs to genus of ascomycete fungi. There are about 400 species of Cordyceps which are endoparasitoids, mainly on insects and other arthropods. Cordyceps sinensis is the best known among species of the genus which is first recorded in Tibet in the 15th Century. This type of fungus has been used for centuries by the
Kacip Fatimah (Labisa Pumila) is a version of Tongkat Ali for females. Kacip Fatimah is a small plant has a woody and leafy stem that grows and can be found commonly in the shade of jungle floors of the Indochina region. In other words, Kacip Fatimah is a small herbaceous plant under shrub that roots
Thai Basil (Oriental basil or Asian basil) or its scientific name, Anise/Licorice Basil, was originally found in the country of Iran, India or other tropical atmosphere in Asia more than 5,000 years ago. Basil comes with varieties of types where each and every one of them has their own unique smell, flavor and health benefits.
Holy Basil (Tulsi/Tulasi) or its scientific name, Ocimum tenuiflorum, was originally found in the country of Iran, India and other tropical environments in Asia more than 5,000 years ago. Basil comes with varieties of types where each and every one of them has their own unique smell, flavor and health benefits. Holy Basil is an
Also known as galanga or blue ginger, galangal is a type of plant that is used in both culinary and medical uses in many parts of Asia, and originated from Indonesia and Hainan Island in China. It is used in various Asian cuisines such as Thai tom yum or tom khai gai soups, Vietnamese Hue
Many chefs or those who love to cook would appreciate the use of natural herbs. The use of lemon basil is famous in many different cuisines such as food from Laos, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Middle East. Lemon basil is a hybrid of the normal basil with the African basil that is mostly grown in
Many are familiar with the variety of unique plants and trees exist deep inside the Malaysian tropical forest that is famous for its medicinal purposes. Mas Cotek is a herbal plant from the tropical forest of Malaysia that has become an international favorite for its medicinal and healthy values. Apparently every bit of Mas Cotek
