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Vanilla II: The Curing and the Chemistry
When we left vanilla in the last post, the French had finally broken the Spanish monopoly and were beginning to establish a vanilla industry in Madagascar and French Polynesia. Normally when a monopoly is broken prices come down as supply increases and the monopolist loses control over pricing. While this was partly the case with… Continue reading
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Vanilla I: Botany and Bad Behaviour
Humans have an almost unlimited capacity to endure other people’s suffering if there are large sums of money to be made. If you don’t believe me, we need look no further than our history books for proof. History is littered with examples of people letting themselves down and behaving badly when in pursuit of a… Continue reading
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The Saffron Scam: Food Fraud and How to Spot Fake Saffron
Discover why saffron is the world’s most expensive spice, its 3,000-year history of food fraud, the chemistry of its unique flavor, and how to test for purity. Continue reading
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The Science of Chilli Burn: Why We Love the Pain of Capsaicin
Ever wondered why eating chillies hurts so good? Discover the neuroscience behind capsaicin, the TRPV1 heat receptor, and why humans love spicy food. Continue reading
