What Is Black Cardamom? Chinese black cardamom, amomum tsao-ko, is a spice commonly used in Asian cuisine. It is also called tsao-ko or cǎoguǒ in Chinese and thao qua in Vietnamese. It is the fruit of an herbaceous plant from the Zingiberaceae family (ginger) with red stems and long, pointed […]
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What is palm sugar?
Sugar is an essential ingredient in cooking to add flavor and sweetness to many sweet and savory dishes. From white sugar to brown sugar, including powdered sugar, cane sugar, or raw sugar, there’s something for every taste. Among them, palm sugar takes the gold medal. Natural and exotic, it’s ultimately […]
Wakame Seaweed, Explained (Uses & Prep)
Wakame is among the most common edible seaweeds. Widely used across Asian cooking, it often appears in salads and soups, or served alongside seafood. While it’s also harvested wild in Australia, cultivation is centered in Japan and Korea. Most wakame you’ll find in stores likely comes from one of these […]
Bean sprouts: what are they?
What people generally call bean sprouts are actually young mung bean shoots—often mislabeled as “soy sprouts”—hence the common confusion. To grow them, mung beans are soaked and sprouted in water. Once germinated, the water is drained and the sprouts are kept in a cool, dark place to develop. What do […]
What are Shimeji mushrooms?
Shimeji mushrooms are a variety of Asian mushroom with a crunchy texture and a delicious nutty flavour. They are also known as beech mushrooms because in the wild they grow on fallen beech trees. They are widely used in Japanese cuisine What are Shimeji mushrooms? Shimeji mushrooms are an edible […]
Chinese Fermented Black Beans (Douchi)
A staple of Chinese cuisine, fermented black beans are commonly used to prepare many classic dishes, such as mapo tofu, steamed pork stew, meatballs, but also stir-fries and soups! Their popularity has also earned them a place in Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine. But what exactly are they, and how […]
The Complete Guide to Rice Varieties
Rice, that staple of Asian cuisine… but not only that! Did you know that a little over 750 million tonnes of it are produced worldwide every year? Granted, while the biggest producers are mostly found on the Asian continent, Europe, even though it trails far behind in the rankings, still […]
Lemongrass: What It Is & How to Cook With It
Lemongrass is impossible to ignore on those heavy summer nights. With mosquitoes waiting for the smallest opening, lemongrass essential oil was once the ultimate weapon to keep them at bay. Highly fragrant, lemongrass is not only an excellent repellent against these tiny pests, but also an indispensable ingredient to keep […]
Sichuan Pepper (花椒) – What It Is & How to Use It
More than just peppery, Sichuan pepper delivers a distinctive blend of flavors with highly aromatic citrus notes that brighten any dish. With the bite of black pepper and a fresh, zesty lift, this Chinese spice will surprise you again and again. What is Sichuan pepper? As the name suggests, Sichuan […]
The Complete Guide to Miso
Miso – most of us have heard of it at least once in our lives… and with good reason! This traditional staple of Chinese cuisine and Japanese cuisine has now found a firm foothold in Europe, where chefs prize its uniquely distinctive flavour. What is miso? Miso is a fermented […]