Has anyone ever asked you if you have a frog in your throat? If you lived in Russia or Finland you might literally have had that affliction, simply from drinking a cup of milk.
In the days before modern refrigeration, inhabitants of Russia and Finland kept milk fresh by dipping a frog in it.
The practice may seem bizarre, but it is well rooted in science. Russian brown frogs emit peptides that combat the growth of salmonella and other dangerous bacteria.
Aristophanes (427 BC – 386 BC) was groundbreaking with his plays. His skills as a satirist and as a keen observer of everyday life led him to give us one of the most revealing pictures of what life was like in ancient Athens. Continue reading
If fruitcake, Christmas cookies, or candy canes aren’t your thing, you might consider trying the South African holiday tradition. Locals celebrate Christmas with a hearty plate of deep-fried caterpillars of the Emperor Moth.
Japan is the largest exporter of frog legs.
Want to remember the value of Pi (3.1415926) in easy way? You can do it by counting each word’s letters in “May I have a large container of coffee?”
At first glance, visitors might think they are witnessing a remake of the cult classic film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. As it turns out, those who happen to be in Buñol, Spain on the last Wednesday of August will merely be witnessing what has been billed as “The World’s Biggest Food Fight.”
La Tomatina dates back to the end of World War II. It is celebrated with an hour-long food fight where nearly 160 tons (145,000 kg) of tomatoes end up covering everything and everyone in sight.
There is some debate among historians about how this tradition started. Some believe that disgruntled townsfolk rioted and began throwing tomatoes. Others believe it started as little more than a food fight between friends. Whatever the cause, the result has become so popular that town officials had to limit the number of participants beginning in 2013 out of concerns for safety.
The Densuke watermelon — commonly known as a black watermelon — is a luxury item. Grown only on the island of Hokkaido, Japan, this gourmet fruit sells in department stores for $200 – $300 apiece.
In 2008 one 17-pound Densuke melon sold at auction for $6,100.
Connoisseurs tell us that the melon is unusually crisp, with a different level of sweetness than the typical melon.
