Now these food facts can keep you entertained, especially for those of you on vacation. Plus, you may find one or two so intriguing that you’ll bring them up the next time you’re out for dinner (although I’m not sure your guests will approve of a couple of them).
1. In Brazil, one of the most popular ingredients for pizza is peas. Yes, the little green pea. Well, did you know those peas pack a pretty powerful punch? (a lot of p)
Not only are they a great source of protein, but they also have vitamin K, manganese, thiamin, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus, and folic acid. However, their real superpower is that they have a myriad of potent antioxidants including high amounts of a polyphenol called coumestrol; this can reduce the risk of stomach cancer. So don’t just roll those peas around on your plate—dive into them and enjoy their nutritional power.
2: When you buy Virgin Olive Oil you may not get exactly what you think. Yes, approximately 70% of the olive oil sold is not pure. Not that any other oil has been added, but the labels lead you to believe that you are getting ‘virgin’ or the initial pressing and that is the best oil to get. Now, in fact, that pure oil does have a peppery taste, and therefore manufacturers prefer to sell you an oil that is mild without the pepper; therefore, it must be processed further. Sometimes the oil will include Lampante Virgin Olive Oil which is, in fact, the lowest grade of virgin olive oil and really not fit for human consumption. In fact, it was originally used as lamp oil, but apparently it takes away that peppery flavor.
If you really want the ‘good stuff’ then you need to do your homework; As for me, I prefer not to use oil at all, it’s still a processed food.
3. Did you notice that 100% ‘real’ orange juice you buy at the store is actually 100% artificially flavored to make it taste like orange? You see that to make orange juice at home you only squeeze the oranges, right? Well, to do it commercially, you squeeze the oranges, but then you have to take the oxygen out of them, and that’s because you need the liquid to keep for up to a year without going bad. But now there is no flavor, so they put the artificial flavor back.
4. Get ready for this one if you’re from the West. There is an amusement park in Tokyo, Japan that offers ice cream flavored with raw horse meat. I kid you not, there are real bits of horse in this ice cream. And other flavors that are offered are beef tongue, octopus and squid.
5. How’s your love for cheese going? hopefully, you’re vegan and don’t eat it, but if you do. this will tickle the back of your throat. Casu Marzu is a cheese found in Sardinia that is infested with worms on purpose. Casu Marzu literally translates to “rotten cheese” and is ranked as the most dangerous cheese in the world.
It is made from sheep’s milk, soaked in brine, smoked and left to age in the open air, uncovered, allowing cheese flies to lay eggs inside. The eggs hatch into thousands of transparent white worms and as they feed on the cheese they produce enzymes that promote fermentation and cause fats that cause the cheese to break down.
The locals will tell you that the tangy, creamy cheese is only okay to eat if the worms are still moving because once the worms are dead, the cheese spoils, decomposing to the point that it’s too toxic for consumption. human. In fact, it has been declared illegal and does not meet EU hygiene standards. I wonder why.
So there you have the 5 Fascinating Food Facts – trust you enjoyed them.
