Animal, Mineral, Vegetable...Or Cheese! Quiz

Answer: Animal

The ECHIDNA is an animal also known as a spiny anteater. Native to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, echidnas can have long or short beaks, all for licking up ants and other small tasty termites with their tongue. They are egg-laying mammals that give birth to young echidnas, endearingly called puggles.

Answer: Animal

Another ant-eating mammal, the PANGOLIN is covered by scales made of keratin, the same substance which makes up human skin, hair and nails. This African and Asian animal likes nothing better than to curl up in a ball to sleep during the day and hunt for food at night by burrowing at anthills with its claws and tongue.

Answer: Mineral

The most abundant mineral on the Earth's crust is FELDSPAR. The rock-forming mineral contains calcium, sodium, or potassium. It has become part of our daily life as vast quantities are mined for the manufacture of glass and ceramics.

Answer: Cheese

SKYR is a cheese that was originally made by the Vikings. The recipe has been passed down through the generations and is still eaten today by the people of Iceland. Very similar in appearance to thick yoghurt, modern-day Icelanders enjoy this dairy food with the addition of vanilla, fruit or nuts.

Answer: Vegetable

ESCAROLE is a vegetable which belongs to the chicory family. The frilly looking leaves can be eaten raw in salad, but can also be cooked and added to white beans to make a heartening soup, sometimes with added bacon or sausage.

Answer: Mineral

MICA is a mineral composed of crystallised sheets which are formed in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. Huge amounts are mined in India, China, Africa and the USA. Mica colour varies from pink, green, yellow, brown and black, all dependent on the iron content. Ground down mica is added to paint, road surfaces and grease to make them more wearable and less resistant to being porous.

Answer: Cheese

AURA is a Finnish blue cheese made from cow's milk, very similar to Roquefort cheese which is made in France. It was named after the River Aura which meanders through the old capital of Turku before reaching 43 miles inland to its source in the fertile green countryside. The creamy and crumbly cheese only takes six weeks to mature before it is ready for consumption.

Answer: Vegetable

The RUTABAGA is a turnip, originally named by the Swedish. In some English speaking countries it is called Swede, Swedish turnip or yellow turnip. Grown underground, this root vegetable can be roasted, baked or boiled and eaten with meat and other vegetables, or added to a hearty vegetable soup.

Answer: Vegetable

CELTUCE is a vegetable which originated in China. It is unusual in that the thick stalk resembles celery while the head is covered in lettuce type leaves. Two for the price of one! Both parts of the vegetable are used in stir fries or salads.

Answer: Mineral

BORAX is a mineral resembling fine crystallised white powder, and can be located in the dry and arid regions of Asia and the US (in Nevada and California). It is soluble in water and has a variety of uses, the most popular being in household cleaning products.

Answer: Mineral

Pure SPINEL is a transparent gemstone but the impurities inside give it many different colours, usually a dark red which has made it comparable to ruby. Other colours include blue, black, green, yellow and pink. Synthetic spinel can have impurities added to give it the colour of choice.

Answer: Animal

Native to Africa and Asia, the CIVET is a small mammal similar in appearance to a cat and otter but with a longer muzzle. Musk can be obtained from the secreted glands of this animal, but a synthetic substitute is often used by the perfume industry to reduce harmful and needless killing. Another name given to the civet is "toddycat".

Answer: Cheese

CHHURPI is a Nepalese cheese made from yak or cow's milk. The hard dried cheese is strung on yak hair, making an edible necklace which can be chewed all day, similar to chewing gum but without the flavouring. It can also be added to soup or stew where the heat causes the cheese to soften.

Answer: Vegetable

The "poor man's asparagus" is another name for SAMPHIRE. This slightly salty green plant grows wild in the UK and parts of Europe and can be eaten raw or as a tasty accompaniment to fish. Samphire is mentioned in the Shakespeare play, "King Lear".

"Half-way down hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!"

Answer: Mineral

GALENA is a mineral which contains lead. The crystals come in various shapes and sizes but it is often octahedral, or eight sided. Exposed to air, the appearance can become dull and lacklustre. It was once used by the Egyptians as kohl around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert.

Answer: Cheese

FLOWER OF RAJYA is a delicate-tasting hard cheese which comes from yak's milk. The cheese is made in copper vats before being curdled, drained and then shaped into wheels. Red salt is dug from the ground and used to dry-cure the cheese.

Answer: Mineral

TUFA is a mineral created out of the limestone deposit from lakes or underwater springs which are rich in calcium. It takes years to develop large underwater deposits which are then formed into towering columns. Latter years has seen an increase in the columns showing above water due to the reduction of water levels. The most unusual rock formations can be found in California, Nevada, UK, parts of Europe and Australia.

Answer: Cheese

A popular cow's milk cheese from Mexico is COTIJA. The cheese, which is dry and salty, is soften sold pre-grated.

Answer: Vegetable

The most common name for ARUGULA is rocket. This leafy green vegetable is high in potassium and vitamin C and used primarily in salads. It can also be added as a pizza topping or as an accompaniment to seafood.

Answer: Animal

The BONGO is an African antelope. Both the male and female have horns and their coats are beautifully marked red, brown and black with vertical white stripes on their side to aid camouflage.