Champagne can only officially be labelled 'Champagne' if it comes from the Champagne region of France?
True False
True: Under EU law, only sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France can legally be called Champagne. Sparkling wines made elsewhere must go by different names, such as Prosecco (Italy), Cava (Spain) or Cremant (other French regions). The protection has been enforced since the 1891 Treaty of Madrid and is still upheld today.
Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies?
True False
True: Traditional Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies as a key ingredient. Created by Lea & Perrins in the 1830s, the sauce combines vinegar, molasses, tamarind, garlic, onions, spices and fermented anchovies. This is why it is not suitable for strict vegetarians or vegans unless a plant-based version is used.
Arabica and Robusta are two main varieties of rice?
True False
False: Arabica and Robusta are the two main species of coffee bean, not rice. Arabica accounts for about 60-70% of global coffee production and is considered higher quality, while Robusta contains more caffeine and is cheaper to grow, often appearing in instant coffee and espresso blends.
In the UK, Jaffa Cakes are officially classified as biscuits?
True False
False: Jaffa Cakes were legally ruled to be cakes, not biscuits, in a famous 1991 court case. Manufacturer McVitie's won the VAT tribunal against HMRC by arguing that Jaffa Cakes go hard when stale (like a cake), whereas biscuits go soft. The classification matters because chocolate-covered biscuits are taxed, while cakes are zero-rated for VAT.
The word 'sushi' refers to the raw fish used in Japanese cuisine?
True False
False: 'Sushi' refers to the vinegared rice, not the fish. The name comes from the vinegar-seasoned rice at the heart of the dish. Raw fish on its own, without rice, is called 'sashimi'. Many types of sushi contain no raw fish at all, such as cucumber maki or tamago (egg) nigiri.
Tomato ketchup was originally made without tomatoes?
True False
True: The earliest ketchups contained no tomatoes at all. Ketchup traces its roots to a Chinese fermented fish sauce called 'koe-chiap'. Early European versions used mushrooms, walnuts, oysters or anchovies as the base. Tomato ketchup as we know it only emerged in the early 1800s in the United States.
Guinness is black in colour?
True False
False: Guinness is actually a very dark ruby red, not black. Though it looks black in the pint glass, hold Guinness up to a strong light and you'll see a deep ruby red colour, thanks to the use of roasted (unmalted) barley. This unusual appearance is one of the drink's quirkier facts.
The dessert 'Pavlova' is named after a Russian ballerina?
True False
True: Pavlova was named in honour of the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova. The meringue-based dessert was created during or soon after Pavlova's 1926 tour of Australia and New Zealand, its light and airy texture said to mirror her graceful dancing. Both Australia and New Zealand still dispute which country invented it.
Chocolate is toxic to dogs?
True False
True: Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Dogs cannot metabolise theobromine as efficiently as humans, allowing it to build up to harmful levels. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are the most dangerous, while milk and white chocolate contain much lower levels.
A macchiato is a large coffee drink made with plenty of hot milk?
True False
False: A traditional macchiato is a small espresso with just a dash of milk. The word 'macchiato' means 'stained' or 'marked' in Italian - the drink is an espresso 'stained' with a small spot of milk or foam. Many chain coffee shops confusingly use the name for much larger milky drinks.
Coca-Cola was originally green in colour?
True False
False: Coca-Cola has always been its familiar caramel-brown colour. The green colour myth probably comes from the tinted glass of early Coca-Cola bottles, which were made from lightly green-tinted 'Georgia green' glass. The drink inside was always brown, coloured by caramel.
Tequila is made from a type of cactus?
True False
False: Tequila is made from the blue agave plant, which is not a cactus. The blue agave (Agave tequilana) looks like a large spiky cactus but is actually a succulent related to the lily family. True tequila must be made from blue agave grown in specific regions of Mexico, primarily the state of Jalisco.
Bananas are technically classified as berries?
True False
True: In botanical terms, bananas are berries. A true berry is a fruit that develops from a single flower with one ovary and has its seeds embedded in the flesh - which fits bananas, grapes, tomatoes and aubergines, but not strawberries or raspberries, which are technically 'aggregate' or 'accessory' fruits.
Haggis is traditionally made with sheep's offal?
True False
True: Traditional haggis contains sheep's heart, liver and lungs. The offal is minced with onions, oatmeal, suet and spices, then encased in the sheep's stomach and simmered. Scotland's national dish is famously served with 'neeps and tatties' - mashed swede (or turnip) and potatoes - on Burns Night.
Roquefort cheese is made from cow's milk?
True False
False: Roquefort is made from sheep's milk, not cow's milk. The famous French blue cheese is made exclusively from the milk of Lacaune sheep and matured in the natural limestone caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in southern France. It has been protected by royal decree since 1411.
Sake is a type of Japanese rice wine?
True False
True: Sake is widely known as Japanese rice wine. Made by fermenting polished rice with water, yeast and a mould called 'koji', sake typically has an alcohol content of around 15-16%. It can be served warm or chilled depending on the style.
Cheddar cheese originates from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England?
True False
True: Cheddar cheese was first made in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. The cheese has been produced in the area since at least the 12th century and was traditionally matured in the nearby Cheddar Gorge caves. Unlike Parmesan or Champagne, however, the name 'Cheddar' is not legally protected, so it can be made anywhere.
Black tea and green tea come from the same plant?
True False
True: Black tea and green tea both come from the Camellia sinensis plant. The difference lies in processing. Green tea leaves are steamed or pan-fried soon after picking to prevent oxidation, while black tea leaves are fully oxidised - turning them darker and giving a stronger, more robust flavour.
White chocolate contains more cocoa solids than milk chocolate?
True False
False: White chocolate contains no cocoa solids at all. White chocolate is made from cocoa butter, milk solids, sugar and vanilla - with no cocoa solids, which is what gives dark and milk chocolate their brown colour and characteristic flavour. Some purists argue it is not really chocolate at all.
Basmati rice is grown mainly in Japan?
True False
False: Basmati rice is grown mainly in India and Pakistan, not Japan. Basmati is cultivated chiefly in the foothills of the Himalayas, across northern India and eastern Pakistan. The name comes from the Sanskrit for 'fragrant', referring to the rice's distinctive aroma when cooked.
