Surprising Food

Originally this fruit grew wild in South East Asia. Modern versions have been hybridized to be much larger and have no seeds. The CIA overthrew the government of Guatemala to ensure that US companies controlled their production.

It once grew on one island in Indonesia and was more valuable than gold. This produces two spices. Britain and the Netherlands fought battles to control the supply.

This fruit is the largest to grow on a tree. It is high in fibre and protein but low in fat. Vietnam produces about 25% of the world's supply.

The world's most expensive spice. It takes ten's of thousands of flowers to produce just a small amount. It comes primarily from Iran.

Also known as lady fingers this is grown around the world in warm climates. Also known as 'Lady Fingers', India is the main provider to the UK.

This grows on a type of cactus and originally comes from Mexico and Central America.

This plant originated in Brazil but was spread around the world by Portuguese explorers. The shell contains a toxic substance that harms the workers that process it.

In some countries it is described as "the king of fruits" but it smells so strong it needs warning signs. Thailand is the largest exporter.

Originally this ingredient was only found in Africa (especially Ethiopia) until it was smuggled out to South America and Asia.

Bird's nests are a luxurious ingredient is used to make soups in China but what is the nest made from?

You need to do a lot to this ingredient to make it into its final product. Originating from Mexico, the biggest exporters to the UK are Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

This ingredient is rarely used today but it was once used in perfumes and in some foods to recreate a raspberry or vanilla flavour. It comes from a gland near a beaver's anus. Beavers are commonly found in Canada.

These tiny insects are used as a food dye known as E120 or Carminic Acid. The largest producer is Peru.

This is a root that grows in the soil at the bottom of ponds and rivers. China is the largest exporter and consumer.

This expensive ingredient is found in the wild underground near the base of trees.

The dried seed pod of these flowers is used to make a flavour that is found in many things. It is mostly grown on the island of Madagascar.

E904 is an ingredient used to make foods like jelly beans and chocolates appear shiny and to stop them sticking. It is harvested by scraping resinous secretions from bugs off tree branches.

This product is in many processed foods and the industry is causing catastrophic deforestation around the world especially on the Indonesian island of Borneo where Orangutans are losing their habitat..

This fruit originates from Mexico and is believed to have been cultivated by the Mayan people. first

These will eventually be turned into baked beans but what are they called?