The subjects of today’s blog are two animal-based “natural” food additives that have been around for hundreds of years–but people are only just realizing where they come from. I’m talking about cochineal red coloring, derived from bugs, and castoreum flavoring,… Read More
In the early sixteenth century, shortly after Columbus had arrived in Hispaniola and Spanish settlers had established huge plantain, banana, and (a bit later) sugar cane plantations on the island that is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic, a plague… Read More
In 1666, the beautiful Frances Stuart, mistress to Charles II, was chosen as the model for “Britannia” on the first minted coin. According to one chronicler, “It is impossible for a woman to have more beauty . . . or less wit.”