Does Vanilla Flavoring Actually Come From Beaver Butts?
Despite internet claims, castoreum—a substance found in beaver glands—is rarely used today as a food flavoring
Titanic Passengers Dined in Style Before Disaster Struck
A water-stained first-class dinner menu dated April 11, 1912 just sold for more than $100,000
What Emoji Tell Us About the History of Tea
From ancient China to 20th-century America, the aromatic beverage has undergone a dramatic evolution
When Hershey’s Crafted a Special Treat for the Troops
In the run-up to World War II, the chocolate company was tasked with creating a nutritious snack that, by design, wouldn’t taste good
Early Europeans Ate Seaweed for Thousands of Years
Researchers found biomarkers of seaweed and other aquatic plants in samples of dental plaque
The Pumpkin Spice Latte Turns 20
Since its launch in 2003, the seasonal drink has helped spawn a cultural phenomenon
The Sticky History of Baklava
The sweet dessert is an important part of the culinary identity of so many places that people sometimes dispute claims to its origins
How Germany’s Spaghetti Ice Cream Came to Be
Italian German ice cream maker Dario Fontanella invented “spaghettieis,” a clever dish that has captured the hearts of many
Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Evidence of ‘Curry’ Outside of India
Ancient spice processing in Southeast Asia reveals an early trade of ingredients for dishes that Westerners often call “curry”
The Most Surprising Carnival Treat Might Just Be Pickle on a Stick
Pickles are having a moment, even at small-town fairs, where vendors are serving them up like popsicles
Why Did Van Halen Demand Concert Venues Remove Brown M&M’s From the Menu?
An investigation of the rock band’s unusual concert rider suggests the stipulation was a savvy marketing move
How Popping Open a Can Became the Sound of Summer
More than 60 years ago, an unfortunate picnic set Ohioan Ermal C. Fraze on a path to inventing the first pop-top tab opener for canned beverages
The Decades-Long Struggle to Figure Out Whether Aspartame Is Bad for You
As groups within the World Health Organization are reviewing the artificial sweetner’s potential to cause cancer, take a look back at a hoax from the ‘90s
Does This Pompeii Painting Depict a 2,000-Year-Old Pizza?
The fresco features a flatbread with a variety of toppings—but no tomato and mozzarella
The 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival Explores the Many Ways Americans Express Their Spirituality
Tibetan Buddhist monks, Yiddish musicians and many more creatives will share their cultural practices with visitors to the National Mall
‘Ebony’ Magazine’s Vintage Test Kitchen Finds a Home at the Smithsonian
The 1970s-era kitchen will undergo conservation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
How Spam Became a Staple of Asian Cuisine
When American G.I.s fought abroad in wars in the 20th century, they left behind an unlikely legacy: canned meat
This Fourth Grader Created Alabama’s New Official State Cookie
Called the Yellowhammer, the dessert is made with ingredients that are important to the state
Untold Stories of American History
How the U.S. Almost Became a Nation of Hippo Ranchers
In 1910, a failed House bill sought to increase the availability of low-cost meat by importing hippopotamuses that would be killed to make “lake cow bacon”
What Made Edna Lewis the Mother of Soul Food
The Virginia-born chef did more than anyone to elevate Southern food to haute cuisine
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