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A Northern Common Cuscus in Indonesia's Gunung Mutis Nature Reserve.

The Cute Critter Rewriting Our Understanding of Prehistory

Before cows and chickens, cuscuses may have been the original livestock.

BY Manvir Singh
Les Hortillonnages have been cultivated since the Middle Ages.

In France, Farmers Still Tend Age-Old Island Gardens

Les Hortillonnages d'Amiens survived a plan to pave it over.

BY Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey

Inside One Man's Quest to Taste Every Fruit on Earth

Not a Fan of Hawaiian Pizza, Processed Cheese, and California Rolls? Blame Canada

The Gastro Obscura Newsletter

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Food & More

Just a few of the shakers on display.
Place

Salt & Pepper Museum

More than 20,000 salt and pepper shakers from across the globe call this museum home.
Place

Caldo de Piedra

Fiery-hot river rocks make soup sizzle at this restaurant showcasing indigenous Chinantec cuisine.
Sweets

Bean Pie

This slightly sweet dessert is a staple in some Black American Muslim communities.
Sweets

Picarones

The sweet potato donuts are an integral part of the Afro-Peruvian community.
See All Food & Drink

Stories

These muskrat bones were found among hundreds of other bones on the Bayly property. Muskrat remains popular in Dorchester County.

A Historical Dig Sheds Light on the Food of the Underground Railroad

Archaeologists found muskrat, turtle, and other edible remains in Harriet Tubman Country.
BY Reina Gattuso
Chen Guorui's artworks—no matter the shape or size—are formed from base units of rice grains formed into triangles.

This Artist Sculpts Animals and Flowers From Grains of Rice

Guorui Chen brought a hometown tradition back from extinction.
BY Zeyi Yang
Chunks of ice floating in water? Nope: coarse salt.

The Microscopic Majesty of Sugars, Salts, and Spices

A molecular biologist turned food writer put kitchen staples under the microscope.
BY Anne Ewbank
The Spanish tall ship <em>Juan Sebastian Elcano</em> leaves the port of Cadiz during the 50th edition of the Tall Ships Race in 2006. The vessel serves as both naval training tool and international envoy and emblem.

The Spanish Navy Is Sailing Two Casks of Sherry Around the Globe

It revives a centuries-old tradition.
BY Isabelle Kliger
Long touted as a health food, grapefruit has a dark side.

Grapefruit Is One of the Weirdest Fruits on the Planet

From its name, to its hazy origins, to its drug interactions, there's a lot going on beneath that thick rind.
BY Dan Nosowitz
The towering date palms of Mountgrove pre-date the neighborhood.

The Best-Kept Secret of a Phoenix Neighborhood Is This Delicious Date

Black Sphinxes grow almost exclusively in Mountgrove backyards.
BY Chris Malloy
Slicing into these cakes reveals their geometric interiors.
The Mesmerizing Geometry of Malaysia's Most Complex Cakes

Bold colors and designs set kek lapis Sarawak apart.

BY Samantha Chong