Ingredient Guides

Native to parts of South America, quinoa forms a staple part of many traditional Andean diets amongst indigenous peoples. In recent years, however, it has been growing ever more popular around the world, gaining recognition of late as people learn about its fantastic...

Native to parts of East and Southeast Asia, tofu forms a staple ingredient in many traditional Asian dishes. It is also very popular around the world, having enjoyed a period in which it was constantly gaining more traction as information about its health giving...

Lentils form a staple of many cuisines around the world, from the Middle East to East Asia, from North America to Europe, everyone loves this legume. Due to their high protein content, alongside the myriad other nutritional benefits to be had from eating them, lentils...

We’re quite used to writing these articles on ingredients and vegetation whose cultivation has a history hundreds of years long. However, today we’re looking at something whose timeline is an altogether grander affair: apples, whose trees are one of the earliest - if...

A fruit that has spent its history travelling the globe, as it has won over culture after culture, bananas are the firm favourite in many fruit bowls the world over. Originally native to Australasian and Indomalayan regions, travellers and conquerors have spread...

Often, these 101 articles are on ingredients and resources originally found naturally in the Earth’s great wildernesses.However, today we’re looking at something whose difference from this trend might surprise you: oranges. Though you may think that oranges are the...

This is a product whose use over a wide range of purposes is gaining a great deal of traction: apple cider vinegar.Apple cider vinegar is one of the most popular ingredients in alternative health circles today and its popularity is growing all the time. It has been...

This is a big one: Avocados- one of the most popular ingredients on the high street today, and growing in popularity all the while. Used in South and Central American cuisine for centuries, cultures all over the world are beginning to discover both the numerous health...

Many of these 101 articles cover ingredients whose cultivation and usage goes back hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years. This time, however, we will look at a much more recent fruit, whose current incarnation is far more modern than you might have imagined: the...

Found in several parts of South America, Brazil nuts form a staple part of many traditional Amazonian diets. They are also very popular around the world, and they're gaining even more traction of late as research into their health giving properties shows more and more...

 Kombucha tea has a history that stretches back possibly thousands of years, and more recently has been enjoying something of a renaissance in many western coffee houses. It is more popular today than ever, whether bought commercially or, increasingly, brewed at home,...

We here at Happy Happy Vegan love the humble almond, and there are a number of reasons why that's the case. Not only is this nut a nutritional powerhouse jam-packed full of wonderful health benefits, it's also one of the tastiest ingredients you can include in a vegan...

Welcome to the wonderful world of broccoli! This vivid green vegetable is an easy way to pack a nutrient-rich punch. With a distinct flavor that is liked by many, it’s a veggie that many of us grew up hating, but now can’t get enough of. So, why is it such a popular...

Green tea has a history stretching back to ancient times, and more recently has been enjoying something of a renaissance. It is more popular today than ever. Though essentially nothing more than a humble selection of leaves, the power tea has over our health is...

Beetroots are a real historical and modern favourite. Though humble in appearance, the beetroot is nevertheless being given star treatment at the moment. Nutritionists are touting it as one of the healthiest foods available both for its fantastic micro-nutrient...

Crafted from the humble cocoa bean, chocolate is beloved by many. However, if we choose to go vegan, traditional milk and white chocolates are no longer suitable for us because of their dairy content. So does this mean chocolate is completely off the menu for vegans?...

Ah, yes. The humble coconut. It’s gone from a much-maligned source of saturated fats to the worlds superfood hero in the space of a few years. What’s true and what’s fiction? What on earth is a “drupe”? Questions we hope to answer in this guide, jam-packed full of...

There is no mistaking the warm, spicy fragrance of cinnamon. Just a whiff of this spice may elicit a longing for a cup of hot cider or a sweet, gooey cinnamon roll fresh from the oven. To some, cinnamon’s flavor and irresistible scent are synonymous with the magic of...

A firm favourite of anybody wanting to ward off vampires in the night, garlic is one of the most well-beloved herbs used in contemporary cooking. Used by cultures all over the world both to add a little zing to their cuisine and for its well documented medicinal...

Spinach was the favourite of Popeye the Sailorman since 1932 – and has been attributed to his super-human strength ever since. In fact, due to its popularity in the cartoon world, spinach sales grew by a whole third in the US market. So, can spinach really give you...

If kale were a fashion statement, we’d say it’s very “in” right now. In fact, die-hard fans actually do tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, so to speak, when it comes to this green, leafy wonder. So what calls for the relatively recent boom in admiration (when...

Turmeric has been experiencing something of a resurgence lately, thanks to an increased interest in natural health supplements and “superfoods.” You may have seen turmeric pop up in unexpected recipes and health “hacks,” like adding it to plant milk or tea, but is it...

Ginger has been prized for its pungent, spicy-sweet aroma and flavor for millennia. Its versatility allows it to effortlessly complement countless recipes, from savory stir-fries and curries to sweet cookies, cakes, and so much more. What makes it truly remarkable is...