Food, SOU-TOS
The necessity of food for survival is something that all humans have in common, but the trends of diet and food consumption can vary considerably from region to region. Find out more about the ingredients, dishes, and drinks that fuel people around the world.
Food Encyclopedia Articles By Title
souari nut
souari nut, any of the seeds borne in large, clustered fruits of trees of the genus Caryocar (family Caryocaraceae),......
soul food
soul food, the foods and techniques associated with the African American cuisine of the United States. The term......
soup
soup, liquid food prepared by cooking meat, poultry, fish, legumes, or vegetables with seasonings in water, stock,......
soup joumou
soup joumou, traditional Haitian soup made with beef, winter squash, and vegetables. It is typically eaten every......
sour cream
sour cream, dairy product made from fermented cream inoculated with lactic acid bacteria. The addition of bacteria......
sourdough
sourdough, leaven made of flour, water, and wild yeasts by a process of fermentation, used to make bread and other......
Soursop
Soursop, (Annona muricata), tree of the custard apple family (Annonaceae) and its large edible fruits. Native to......
sous vide
sous vide, French cooking technique in which food is vacuum-sealed and then slowly cooked in water heated to a......
souse
souse, a light Caribbean dish, served cold, that traditionally consists of pickled pig meat in a clear broth flavoured......
soy sauce
soy sauce, traditional East and Southeast Asian liquid condiment made of fermented soybeans, wheat, yeast, and......
spaghetti
spaghetti, thin, straight, cylindrical pasta of Italian origin, the most popular of all pastas eaten today. Noodles......
SPAM
SPAM, trademarked meat product consisting primarily of ground pork and ham. SPAM, usually rendered as Spam, was......
spearmint
spearmint, (Mentha spicata), aromatic herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae), widely used for culinary purposes. Spearmint......
sperm oil
sperm oil, pale yellow oil obtained with spermaceti from the head cavity (spermaceti organ) and blubber of the......
spice and herb
spice and herb, parts of various plants cultivated for their aromatic, pungent, or otherwise desirable substances.......
Spinach
Spinach, (Spinacia oleracea), hardy leafy annual of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae), used as a vegetable. Widely......
Spirulina
Spirulina, Any cyanobacteria in the genus Spirulina. A traditional food source in parts of Africa and Mexico, spirulina......
sponge candy
sponge candy, a crunchy, bite-size, chocolate-covered crystalline candy. Much like malt balls, it has a crispy......
spoon
spoon, an implement consisting of a small shallow bowl-shaped receptacle supported by a handle, used for eating,......
Squash
Squash, (genus Cucurbita), genus of flowering plants in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), many of which are widely......
sriracha
sriracha, bright-red hot sauce of Thai origin made of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar that has......
star anise
star anise, dry fruits of the star anise tree (Illicium verum), used as a spice and source of pharmaceutical chemicals.......
star apple
star apple, (Chrysophyllum cainito), tropical American tree, of the sapodilla family (Sapotaceae), native to the......
steak and kidney pie
steak and kidney pie, a traditional British dish consisting of diced steak, onion, and kidneyâtypically from a......
steak and kidney pudding
steak and kidney pudding, a traditional British dish consisting of diced steak, onion, and kidneyâgenerally from......
steak frites
steak frites, a simple dish of beef steak alongside strips of deep-fried potato, commonly known as french fries.......
steak tartare
steak tartare, dish made of chopped or minced raw beefsteak bound by raw egg yolk and seasoned with mustard, capers,......
stevia (sweetener)
stevia (sweetener), sweetener made from the leaves of the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana and used as a......
stew
stew, dish of meat, poultry, or fish, usually with vegetables, cooked in liquid in a closed vessel over low heat.......
sticky toffee pudding
sticky toffee pudding, a classic British dessert consisting of a dark, dense sponge cake made with chopped dates......
Stilton
Stilton, classic English blue cheese made from cowâs milk, named for the village in Huntingdonshire where, according......
stinging nettle
stinging nettle, (Urtica dioica), weedy perennial plant of the nettle family (Urticaceae), known for its stinging......
Stirrup cup
Stirrup cup, originally a drink offered to a man mounted on horseback and about to depart for the hunt; now, the......
Storr, Paul
Paul Storr was a goldsmith particularly noted for his outstanding craftsmanship in the execution of richly ornamented......
Stout
Stout, dark, heavy-bodied beer popular in Great Britain and Ireland. Stouts are stronger versions of mild ale.......
Strawberry
Strawberry, (genus Fragaria), genus of more than 20 species of flowering plants in the rose family (Rosaceae) and......
stroopwafel
stroopwafel, a popular Dutch treat similar to a cookie, featuring two thin wafflelike wafers with a sweet filling.......
sucket fork
sucket fork, small metal utensil used for eating sweetmeats, or sucket, with a two- or three-pronged fork at one......
sucrose
sucrose, organic compound, colourless sweet-tasting crystals that dissolve in water. Sucrose (C12H22O11) is a disaccharide;......
sugar
sugar, any of numerous sweet, colourless, water-soluble compounds present in the sap of seed plants and the milk......
Sugar beet
Sugar beet, (Beta vulgaris), one of the four cultivated forms of the plant Beta vulgaris of the amaranth family......
sukiyaki
sukiyaki, in Japanese cuisine, a dish of beef and vegetables prepared in the nabemono (one-pot) style. It is a......
surströmming
surströmming, pungent, fermented herring of Swedish origin. Neither the name, which means âsour herring,â nor the......
sushi
sushi, a staple rice dish of Japanese cuisine, consisting of cooked rice flavoured with vinegar and a variety of......
Swan Service
Swan Service, set of porcelain tableware made at the Meissen factory in Germany between 1737 and 1741 by Johann......
Sweet potato
Sweet potato, (Ipomoea batatas), food plant of the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), native to tropical America.......
sweetbread
sweetbread, type of offal, or variety meat, deriving from the thymus or pancreas of a young animal (such as a calf......
sweetener
sweetener, any of various natural and artificial substances that provide a sweet taste in foods and beverages.......
sweetsop
sweetsop, (Annona squamosa), small tree or shrub of the custard apple family (Annonaceae). Native to the West Indies......
Swift, Gustavus
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Tabasco
Tabasco, (Capsicum frutescens), hot red pepper in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Tabasco is a cultivar of......
Tabasco sauce
Tabasco sauce, spicy condiment, of American origin, made of hot chilies, vinegar, and salt. It is arguably the......
tabbouleh
tabbouleh, herb salad of Middle Eastern origin that primarily consists of parsley, bulgur, tomatoes, and other......
tableware
tableware, utensils used at the table for holding, serving, and handling food and drink. Tableware includes various......
taco
taco, an internationally popular hand-sized food item of Mexican origin combining seasoned meat, vegetables, and......
taffy
taffy, flavoured syrup candy of Europe and the Americas that is cooked and then rigorously worked during cooling......
tagine
tagine, North African cooking vessel consisting of a flat rimmed dish and a tall conical lid. The term tagine also......
tahini
tahini, paste of crushed sesame seeds that is widely used in Middle Eastern cooking. Tahini mixed with garlic,......
tamale
tamale, in Latin American cuisine, a small steamed cake of dough made from corn (maize). In the preparation of......
tamarind
tamarind, (Tamarindus indica), evergreen tree of the pea family (Fabaceae), native to tropical Africa. It is widely......
tandoori chicken
tandoori chicken, a dish of roasted chicken marinated in yogurt and generously spiced, giving the meat its trademark......
tandoori cookery
tandoori cookery, an Indian method of cooking over a charcoal fire in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. Shaped......
Tangerine
Tangerine, (Citrus reticulata), small thin-skinned variety of orange belonging to the mandarin orange species of......
tankard
tankard, drinking vessel for ale or beer, widely used in northern Europe (especially Scandinavia, Germany, and......
tapa
tapa, a Spanish appetizer, served hot or cold, that is typically eaten at bars with a drink intended to complement......
tapioca
tapioca, a preparation of cassava root starch used as a food, in bread or as a thickening agent in liquid foods,......
Taro
Taro, (Colocasia esculenta), herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae) and its edible rootlike corm. Taro is......
tarragon
tarragon, bushy, aromatic perennial herb of the family Asteraceae, the dried leaves and flowering tops of which......
tea
tea, beverage produced by steeping in freshly boiled water the young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant, Camellia......
tea and coffee service
tea and coffee service, set of vessels and implements for making and serving tea and coffee, the items often of......
Teff
Teff, (Eragrostis tef), annual cereal grass, grown for its tiny nutritious seeds. Teff is native to Ethiopia and......
tempeh murni
tempeh murni, food made of soybeans that have been fermented in plastic; it originated in Indonesia. Many different......
tempura
tempura, cooking technique of Japanese origin that involves dipping fish, shellfish, meat, or vegetables in a light......
tequila
tequila, distilled liquor, usually clear in colour and unaged, that is made from the fermented juice of the Mexican......
teriyaki
teriyaki, in Japanese cuisine, foods grilled with a highly flavoured glaze of soy sauce and sake or mirin (sweet......
Texas barbecue
Texas barbecue, seasoned smoked meatsâspecifically beef brisket, pork ribs, and sausageâassociated with Texas.......
thyme
thyme, (Thymus vulgaris), pungent herb of the mint family (Lamiaceae) known for the aroma and flavor of its dried......
ti
ti, (genus Cordyline), genus of tropical trees and shrubs in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Asia,......
tiramisu
tiramisu, dessert, of Italian origin, that blends layers of espresso and liqueur-soaked sponge cake with a filling......
Today in HistoryâApril 10: The Day Bananas Debuted in London
On this spring day in 1633, people gathered outside a Holborn shop window in central London to stare at something......
Today in HistoryâApril 23: The Not-So-Sweet Backlash to New Coke
After sticking to the sameâsecretâformula for 99 years, the Coca-Cola Company tweaked the recipe of its iconic......
Today in HistoryâAugust 28: When Pepsi Got Its Name
On this summer day in 1898, something very mundane took place in the town of New Bern, North Carolina. At the drugstore......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 11: The French Chef Premiere: When Julia Child Taught America to Cook (and Laugh)
On this day in 1963, with the premiere of The French Chef, Julia Child changed cookingâand televisionâforever.......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 1: How a Hobby Revived an Industry
With the stroke of a pen, U.S. Pres. Jimmy Carter transformed Americaâs brewing industry. On October 14, 1978,......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 11: The Day Milk Got Contained
On this day in 1878 Alexander Campbell of the New York Dairy Company Ltd. pulled off something revolutionary: He......
Today in HistoryâJanuary 18: The Latest Sacrifice in the War Effort: Sliced Bread
On this day in 1943, with hundreds of thousands of troops overseas fighting Nazi Germany and the Axis powers, Americans......
Today in HistoryâJuly 7: The Long Road to Sliced Bread
Bread has been made for thousands and thousands of years. But the convenience of commercially available presliced......
Today in HistoryâMay 13: How the Table Knife Was Introduced
Armand-Jean du Plessis, cardinal et duc de Richelieu, or lâĂminence Rouge. He was Louis XIIIâs chief minister,......
Today in HistoryâMay 24: The Day American Wines Dethroned France
On this day in 1976 an Englishman living in Paris threw America a birthday party. The menu: wine. Steven Spurrier,......
Today in HistoryâSeptember 10: The Man Behind the Can Patents a Spaghetti Cooker
On this day in 1935, Italian immigrant Ettore âHectorâ Boiardi patented a production spaghetti cooker for his factory.......
tofu
tofu, soft, relatively flavourless food product made from soybeans. Tofu is an important source of protein in the......
Tokaji AszĂș
Tokaji AszĂș, a full-bodied sweet dessert wine made from late-ripened grapes affected by Botrytis cinerea, a mold......
Tokay
Tokay, famous, usually sweet white wine of Hungary, made from the Hungarian Furmint grape. The wine derives its......
Tomatillo
Tomatillo, (Physalis philadelphica), annual species of ground cherry of the nightshade family and its tart edible......
Tomato
Tomato, (Solanum lycopersicum), flowering plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), cultivated extensively for......
tortellini
tortellini, a ring-shaped Italian pasta stuffed with cheese or meat that is most traditionally served in broth......
tortilla
tortilla, round, thin, flat bread of Mexico made from unleavened cornmeal or, less commonly, wheat flour. Traditionally,......
tossa jute
tossa jute, (Corchorus olitorius), annual herbaceous plant that is cultivated as a source of jute fiber and for......
Tostada
Tostada, a crispy fried tortilla, often spread with refried beans or guacamole and topped with vegetables and other......