Archives for July 2008
Wine – Origin and Future
22 July 2008 | Uncategorized | No Responses
Did you know the worlds oldest bottle of wine is from 325 B.C.? It is on display at the Historisches Museus der Pfalz museum in Speyer, Germany.
Fossil vines, 60 million years old, are the earliest scientific evidence of grapes. The earliest written account of viticulture is the Bible. Wine has made one of the largest social impacts over time, more than honey (mead) or grain. Wine and history have a great influence on one another and have continuously brought people together time and again.
Today in the modern world, wine is widely discussed and consumed globally. A massive boom in the industry in the last few decades has resulted in more varieties to choose from. This trend should continue to boom and bring more benefits.
“I think wine has taken over from the toys of the old days like watches and cars. Wine shows you have money, but it also shows you have taste”. – Thomas Matthews
The Diversity of Curry
9 July 2008 | Uncategorized | No Responses
Blending spices is a key factor in Indian cuisine/ In India; spice blend recipes are passed down through generations. Most Indian cooks have a wide variety of fresh spices to use and have many various mixtures for different recipes. A common ingredient in many curry mixtures is turmeric, which gives curries a distinctive yellow color. Other popular spices in curries include coriander, ginger, garlic, chilies, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, cumin and tamarind. Different types of curries use different main ingredients depending on their region or country.
The word curry means different things to different people. In America many people believe curry is an Indian spice. To add to the confusion curry powder is sold in most supermarkets and many recipes call for curry powder. Curry powder is actually a blend of spices. In India, they may be confused if a recipe called for curry powder as they have such a variety.
The word “Khari” from which “curry” is derived, comes from Southern India and refers to a sauce of any kind. “Curry powder” was developed by the British during their colonial rule of India to be able to take the taste of Indian cuisine home with them, without having to utilize fresh spices. As a result “curry powder” in the western world has a fairly standardized taste. In India there are millions of curry flavors.