Miso paste can be aged for up to three years, developing increasingly complex flavors.

Broccoli is a man-made vegetable — it was cultivated from wild cabbage by ancient Italians.

Extra-virgin olive oil begins to degrade as soon as it's exposed to light and air — dark bottles and airtight seals preserve it best.

Maple syrup production requires 40 liters of sap to produce just 1 liter of syrup through boiling.

Blue food is extremely rare in nature — most blue-colored foods get their hue from added dye.

Fermentation was used in food preservation before humans understood microbiology.

The global banana trade is dominated by a single variety, the Cavendish, making it vulnerable to disease.

The pungent smell of durian comes from sulfur compounds similar to those found in onions and garlic.

Eggs contain all 9 essential amino acids in proportions nearly perfect for human absorption.