spices

A writer shared a quick vegan chai tea recipe, framing it as a celebratory response to progressive culture being 'in' again. The piece combines food and lifestyle content with political commentary, offering an easy plant-based version of the spiced tea drink that swaps dairy milk for a vegan alternative.

Researchers at Northwestern University's SPICE Lab have developed smartwatch-based technology that could be used to help control prosthetic hands. The wearable approach could offer users a simpler way to operate artificial limbs, and the university is publicising the work. Details about how the technology works, its testing stage, and availability remain limited in early coverage.

A gardener has shared photos of freshly harvested Sichuan pepper (Zanthoxylum simulans) grown in their own garden as part of a photo suggestion tagged 'Gwürze', Swiss-German for spices. They describe the shrub as fully hardy and undemanding, with berries that are mildly sharp, slightly bitter and lemony. They note the spice should only be added at the end of cooking time.

More than 150 authors are giving away free cozy mystery ebooks through a promotion on BookFunnel, organised by writer Sophie Maddon. The giveaway, billed as 'Fireside Sleuths and Cozy Crimes', targets readers of gentle, 'no-spice' crime fiction and is circulating widely among indie-author and booklover communities, with readers encouraged to download titles while the event lasts.

Nature photographers are sharing images of Andrena agilissima, a striking mining bee with an iridescent blue-black sheen, pictured feeding on a white mustard flower. The post playfully ties into photo prompt tags for 'spices' and bee day, noting there is no good English equivalent for its German name, and suggesting 'iridescent blue mustard sand bee' as a translation.

An artist has completed their November contribution to a calendar project, depicting the historic town of Lüneburg in Germany. The painting's gingerbread-style houses evoke Spekulatius, the spiced German biscuits traditionally shaped like little houses. The original artwork has already been sold, though prints are available, with the artist encouraging people to support independent artists.

A home cook shared a satisfying dinner of crispy spiced beef kofta served with charred zucchini, blistered cherry tomatoes and a lemon tahini yogurt sauce. The patties took on good colour in the pan, and even though a little too much water left the yogurt sauce runny, the meal was still a success. Food lovers are sharing and admiring such simple, flavourful home-cooked dishes.

A recipe for khara mixture, the crispy South Indian Madras snack made of fried gram flour strands, peanuts, curry leaves and spices, is attracting wide attention online, with over 1.3 million likes on a single tutorial. Home cooks are sharing the classic tea-time treat, which is especially popular during festivals like Diwali and Janmashtami.

A photograph of Szechuan pepper tree fruit growing in a friend's forest garden in Portugal has been shared as part of a photo prompt inviting others to post images on the theme of spices. The image highlights how the spice plant, more common in Asia, can thrive in a Portuguese forest garden setting.

Food personality Gail Simmons is putting a deli-style spin on the holiday centerpiece, seasoning and preparing roast turkey the way pastrami is traditionally cured and spiced. The approach swaps a plain bird for one layered with peppercorns, coriander and other classic pastrami flavors, offering home cooks a bold alternative for festive meals this season.

A Cosmopolitan guide to winter date ideas is making the rounds, encouraging couples to turn cold, dark nights into warm date nights. The piece offers seasonal suggestions for spicing up love life during winter, tagged under arts, fashion and culture topics.

Food site Serious Eats is featuring a Hawaiʻian twist on pumpkin pie that adds a creamy coconut-haupia layer, positioning it as a standout dessert for Thanksgiving tables. The recipe highlights haupia, a traditional coconut pudding, combined with classic spiced pumpkin filling. Home bakers looking to diversify their holiday dessert spread are picking up the idea as the holiday approaches.

Author Sophie Maddon is promoting a BookFunnel event where 140 authors give away free romance ebooks across sci-fi, time-travel, fantasy and paranormal subgenres, with spice levels from sweet to spicy. Readers are being invited to browse and download the free titles through the event page.

A social media user reports eating a homemade stew cooked by someone named Grant from a recipe by The Divine Chef found via YouTube. The dish, made with onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, green lentils, coconut milk, spices and vegetable stock, was praised as 'divine' and described as 'a warm hug in a bowl'.

Marui Family Shiki in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture, is hosting a limited-time return of the restaurant shop "Cheese and Spice and Me" from October 21 to 27. Customers who mention seeing it on Instagram receive a special perk. The pop-up's comeback is drawing local attention as part of the store's seasonal event lineup.

German-speaking photography enthusiasts are sharing close-up images of ginger and other spices in response to a photo suggestion tagged #FotoVorschlag, combining food and macro photography themes. The contributions, posted under the German word 'Gewürze' meaning spices, highlight ginger as the featured subject of the latest prompt.

Food publication Mashed has compiled a roundup of 21 recipes featuring pumpkin spice, the seasonal blend popular in autumn cooking. The list suggests ways to use the flavor beyond the usual lattes and pies, arriving as interest in pumpkin-spiced baking and drinks picks up heading into the fall season.

A new photo essay documents the annual saffron harvest in Kashmir, where farmers hand-pick the crimson stigmas from purple crocus flowers, a spice so valuable it is known as red gold. The images highlight the region's famed saffron fields of Pampore and the labour-intensive work behind one of the world's most expensive spices, drawing attention to Kashmir's agricultural heritage.

A German photo prompt inviting pictures of spices is trending, with participants debating whether herbs count as a subgroup of spices. Contributors are sharing shots of their gardens and herb corners, including thyme, wild garlic and other plants, and reporting how their herb patches have developed this growing season.

Grenada, the Caribbean island known as the 'Spice Isle', is being featured for its distinctive food culture. Coverage highlights the island's nutmeg, cinnamon and other spices, along with local dishes and cooking traditions shaped by its history. The feature presents Grenada as a destination for travellers interested in cuisine, at a time when food-driven tourism in the Caribbean continues to grow.

Lǔ dàn, a Chinese street food staple of eggs simmered and marinated in soy sauce and spices, is the subject of renewed online interest. Fans highlight its savory flavor, affordability and ease of making at home, with recipes often braising eggs in a spiced soy broth until deeply flavorful.

A recipe for avocado toast seasoned with chatpata Indian spices is being shared as an idea for festive breakfast hosting. The dish combines the familiar avocado toast format with masala-style seasonings, positioning it as a simple but flavourful option for serving guests during the holiday season.

New research suggests that combining certain spices multiplies their anti-inflammatory effects beyond what each spice offers alone. The findings point to synergistic interactions between common kitchen spices, rather than relying on a single ingredient. Health coverage is highlighting which pairings work best and what this could mean for using everyday seasoning as a simple way to support inflammation control through diet.

An English-language lesson is circulating that teaches learners how to talk about food and restaurants, using the phrase 'What spices are there in this dish? It smells wonderful!'. The material is aimed at ESL, EFL and EAL students and is shared in multiple languages, including Spanish, Korean, Russian and Chinese, to help learners build practical restaurant vocabulary.

A food writer is sharing a dessert recipe pairing dried figs and raisins poached in red wine, with ginger adding gentle spice and orange zest bringing extra aroma. The dish is being promoted as a must-try for Thanksgiving tables, and home cooks are picking it up as the holiday approaches.