Which country first cultivated coffee as a crop?
Brazil
Colombia
Ethiopia
Yemen
Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia around the 9th century, where it was discovered in the region of Kaffa.
In which year was Pad Thai created as Thailand’s national dish?
1930
1939
1945
1952
Pad Thai was created in 1939 by Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram to promote Thai nationalism and reduce rice consumption during World War II.
Which Italian city invented the Margherita pizza in honor of Queen Margherita in 1889?
Rome
Venice
Florence
Naples
Pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito created the pizza in Naples, using tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the Italian flag.
How many distinct regional cuisines are officially recognized in Chinese gastronomy?
4
8
12
16
The ‘Eight Great Traditions’ of Chinese cuisine include Cantonese, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Anhui, and Shandong styles.
Which spice was once worth its weight in gold during the Middle Ages?
Cinnamon
Pepper
Saffron
Nutmeg
Saffron, derived from crocus flowers, was worth its weight in gold and was used as currency. It takes 150-170 flowers to produce just 1 gram of saffron.
What is the minimum aging period for traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena?
5 years
12 years
18 years
25 years
Traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena, Italy must be aged for at least 12 years in wooden barrels to receive its DOP certification.
Which country consumes the most cheese per capita annually?
France
Italy
Denmark
Greece
Denmark leads global cheese consumption with approximately 28.1 kg per person annually, followed by Iceland and Finland.
In which year did sushi first appear in the United States?
1953
1966
1970
1982
The first sushi restaurant in the US, Kawafuku, opened in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo in 1966, introducing Americans to this Japanese cuisine.
How many ingredients are in traditional French baguette by law?
2
4
6
8
French law stipulates that authentic baguettes can only contain four ingredients: flour, water, salt, and yeast.
Which Asian cuisine first introduced the concept of ‘umami’ as the fifth taste?
Chinese
Korean
Japanese
Thai
The term ‘umami’ was coined by Japanese chemist Kikunae Ikeda in 1908 when he discovered glutamate as the source of savory flavors in dashi broth.
What percentage of the world’s saffron is produced in Iran?
0.5
0.75
0.9
0.95
Iran produces about 90% of the world’s saffron, with most coming from the Khorasan Province.
Which year was wasabi first cultivated in Japan?
1596
1635
1744
1820
Wasabi was first cultivated in 1744 in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, though it had been harvested wild for centuries before.
How many varieties of pasta shapes exist in Italy?
150
350
500
600
Italy has approximately 350 different pasta shapes, each designed to hold different sauces and ingredients effectively.
Which Mexican dish was created specifically for Emperor Maximilian I?
Mole
Chiles en Nogada
Tamales
Enchiladas
Chiles en Nogada was created in 1821 by Puebla nuns for Emperor Maximilian I, using the colors of the Mexican flag.
How many essential spices are in traditional Indian garam masala?
5
7
11
13
Traditional garam masala contains 11 essential spices, though regional variations exist throughout India.
What year was the first Michelin Guide published?
1880
1900
1926
1933
The Michelin Guide was first published in 1900 by tire manufacturers André and Édouard Michelin as a guide for French motorists.
Which country invented ice cream?
Italy
China
Persia
Greece
Ice cream was invented in China around 3000 BC, where they mixed snow with milk and rice to create frozen treats.
How many ingredients are allowed in traditional German beer by law?
3
4
5
6
The German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) of 1516 states that beer can only contain water, barley, hops, and yeast.
In which year was the first cookbook published?
1475
1550
1700
1825
The first printed cookbook, ‘De Honesta Voluptate et Valetudine,’ was published in 1475 by Bartolomeo Platina in Italy.
How many distinct flavor compounds are in a single cup of coffee?
500
800
1000
1500
Coffee contains approximately 1000 different flavor compounds, making it more complex than wine, which has about 200.
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