Savor

Lembas is the one bread to rule them all in J.R.R. Tolkien's world of 'The Lord of the Rings.' In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren delve into the real-world inspirations and Elvish science behind lembas and other food and drink from Middle Earth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summery cocktail of wine and fruit (or fruit flavorings) is adapted ad infinitum, from light handmade draughts to sweet bottled drinks. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of sangria. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This prolific summer squash turns up as everything from a side dish staple to a baked good booster to a noodle substitute. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of the zucchini (and its blossoms). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These beloved, nostalgic shredded potato nuggets started simply as a way to save french fry scraps from going to waste. Anney and Lauren explore the science, history, and culture of tots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These tasty stuffed pastries come in near-infinite iterations around the world. Anney and Lauren get wrapped up in the history and culture of empanadas. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This herb (or herb group) and the eponymous spice blends made from it are ubiquitous in cuisines around the Eastern Mediterranean. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture of za’atar. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Call it soda, pop, coke, or plain ol' carbonated water: In this classic episode, we dive into the sometimes explosive science and history of all agua that sparkles, from mineral springs to soda fountains to Big Gulps. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These berries are beloved as a pie filling and a health food alike. Anney and Lauren dig into the science, history, and health marketing of blueberries. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These fluted tube pans can be used to create dense, beautiful cakes with a minimum of fuss. Anney and Lauren explore the science and history of Nordic Ware's Bundt pans. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This fish/seafood soup/stew, made famous by Marseille, sees a lot of iterations throughout the city and beyond. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture behind bouillabaisse (and rouille). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This simple cocktail – composed of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari (or another bright amaro) – has a complicated backstory. Anney and Lauren dip into the culture and history of the negroni. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This herb, which tastes fresh and lemony to some but bitter and soapy to others, has been gracing tables for thousands of years along with its spice counterpart, coriander. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of cilantro. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hearty dish of beans in tangy sauce conjures nostalgia whether served as a cookout side or a breakfast staple, from a can or made fresh. Anney and Lauren spill the science and history behind baked beans (and their, er, musical properties). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This silky frozen treat that started out as a status symbol has become a ubiquitous Italian street food. Anney and Lauren dip into the science and history of gelato. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not exactly sweet and definitely not a bread, sweetbreads are a type of offal with a pedigree among gastronomes. In this classic episode, we explore how people treated this odd, tasty gland in the past, and how it made a comeback. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This plant and its nutritious, gel-producing seeds have been used as a staple crop, in nanotech, and as an indoor pet. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of chia. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This chocolatey, chewy candy is at the center of more than just lollipops – there’s a lot of mystery surrounding it, too. Anney and Lauren bite into the history of the Tootsie Roll. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This cheese spread/dip is so popular in the American South that its recipe – and Northern origins – garner controversy. Anney and Lauren explore the history and culture of pimento cheese. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These ancient botanical blends gave beers a depth of flavor and antimicrobial punch (plus other properties, maybe) before hops came to dominate the scene. Anney and Lauren get mixed up in the history and pronunciation of gruit. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This post-apocalyptic game franchise features an array of food and drink items for players to interact with – at their own risk. Anney and Lauren explore the questionable cuisine of ‘Fallout’. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These sweet grapes, native to the American South, are known for their large size, thick skins, and aromatic wines. Anney and Lauren explore the botany and history of muscadines and scuppernongs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This savory spread with a divisively strong flavor earned its place in Australian culture through decades of clever marketing. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren explore the history and yeast-extract science of Vegemite -- plus talk Tim Tams. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These warming, communal, simple-yet-sophisticated dishes gained popularity thanks to a Swiss dairy cartel. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and science of fondue. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This small seed (and its large oil content) grace sweet and savory dishes around the world. Anney and Lauren dig into the botany and history behind sesame seeds. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With our hearts and inboxes full, we turn again to the stories y'all have sent us, including but not limited to Old Bay and root beer controversies, tyrannical milk tea, squid poems, crab massacres, and geese. Geese! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These small, simple, shell-shaped cakes are the result (and subject) of a lot of complex work. Anney and Lauren explore the science and history behind the madeleine and its perfect hump. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This small, prolific type of tuna is common in two very different preparations: canned, and raw in poke. Anney and Lauren reel in the biology and history of skipjack tuna. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This cocktail of vodka, ginger beer, and lime gets its kick from the way it sets off our heat sensors. Anney and Lauren burn through the spicy science and scattered history of the Moscow Mule. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This method of cooking is endlessly adaptable, and the various dishes it creates represent the history of the Philippines on a plate. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture of Filipino adobo. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These small but fiery chili peppers became so widely popular that they’ve caused historical confusion. Anney and Lauren give some hot takes on the history and science of habaneros. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These crustaceans are the most-consumed type of crab in the U.S., which is the top crab-consuming country in the world. Anney and Lauren explore the history and, honestly, just very strange science of blue crabs. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expiration dates cause confusion and food waste. In this classic episode, Lauren and Anney do some demystifying (and talk about how a notorious gangster may have been involved with their inception). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This highly customizable treat is part drink, part snack, and a complete sensation. Anney and Lauren spill the history and culture of bubble tea. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This shelf-stable concentrate of broth or stock is a mainstay of modern home cooking, but similarly portable soups go back hundreds of years. Anney and Lauren take stock of the science and history of bouillon. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This lime-green culinary nut partially deshells itself when it’s ready for us to eat. Anney and Lauren shake down the history and science behind pistachios. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This brand of seasonings has made itself synonymous with Maryland seafood. Anney and Lauren boil down the history and culture of Old Bay products. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweet beverage doesn’t necessarily contain either roots or beer, but it certainly can. Anney and Lauren dip into the history and culture of root beer. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We owe so many innovations in food safety and technology to the simple fact that astronauts need to eat. In this classic episode, Anney and Lauren launch into the history (and sometimes questionable menus) of space food. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This sweeping media franchise has featured plenty of foods and drinks in its 25 years – including some made from Pokémon themselves. (Our courage will pull us through.) Y’all teach us, and we’ll teach you about the fictional foods of the 'Pokémon' universe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s not a trap! We again reach into the mailbag (digital and physical) to share listeners’ stories -- including mac & cheese disasters, Guinness lyrics, and literal snail mail. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This prolific yellow flower has tender, nutritious leaves and a somewhat weedy reputation. Anney and Lauren explore the bittersweet science and history of the dandelion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Chinese-American comfort food was inspired by Hunan, originated in Taipei, and developed in New York City. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and culture(s) behind General Tso’s chicken. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This complex spice, both warming and cooling, brings zing to foods from baked goods and curries to caffeinated drinks and beyond. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of cardamom. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This brewing company, famous for its Irish stouts, is one of the most recognizable beer brands in the world. Anney and Lauren tap into the history and science of Guinness. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This creamy comfort food is a classic, whether it’s crafted or Krafted. Anney and Lauren dig into the history and industrial evolution of macaroni and cheese. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These prized mushrooms have been around for a long time, but they’ve managed to remain mysterious. Anney and Lauren explore the science and history behind morel mushrooms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Scottish sausage may be made with humble ingredients, but it’s the stuff(ing?) of legend. Anney and Lauren explore the biology, sportsmanship, and poetry of haggis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This tropical fruit lends a bright punch of flavor to both sweet and savory dishes in cuisines around the world. Anney and Lauren dig into the science and history of tamarind. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This process creates lightweight, flavorful preserved foods that keep for years and can be easily reconstituted – just add water. Anney and Lauren explore the cool science and history of freeze drying. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bowls of this cereal grain have been sustaining humans for tens of thousands of years. Anney and Lauren explore the sweet/savory science and history of oatmeal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.