The Thyme Machine Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mint

Mmmmm...mint. The flavour of wonderful candies, the perfect match for ice cream and chocolate chips, and the thing that makes some gum worth chewing. Mint is an herb leaf from the Lamiaceae family (known specifically for mints) and it can be found all around the world.

It's fairly popular appearing in many international dishes from breakfast to deserts and it also comes in variations such as Spearmint and Peppermint. Mint is known for its relaxing aroma which is known to quell stomach aches and is frequently seen in 'sleepytime' teas. Mint jelly is commonly paired with lamb because of their complementary flavours while the mixed drink known as the mojito uses sprigs of fresh mint, lime juice, sugar, and white rum to make a refreshing Cuban cocktail. Regardless, mint tends to be a crowd-pleaser...and hey, fresh breath is to be enjoyed by all.

Answer: Cinnamon

Cinnamon is harvested from specific trees which originated in Asia but which spread throughout the world, particularly those in the Cinnamomum genus; cinnamon itself is harvested from the bark of these plants. Nevertheless, cinnamon production is nearly exclusive to Eastern Asia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the last of which is actually the native country of the main cinnamon tree species. Surprisingly, cinnamon is pounded and distilled in seawater giving it its distinctive flavouring.

It's used in many dishes around the world as a 'hot' spice, particularly in the Middle East and Mexico but it's also ideal for baking. Cinnamon buns, candy hearts, and cinnamon sugar all remain popular dessert items while alcoholic drinks such as Goldschlager contain cinnamon.

Answer: Basil

This herb obviously couldn't be coriander as those would be the seeds of a cilantro plant. Also, turmeric is a powder used in East Asian cooking.
Basil, however, is quite a common herb, at least in Eurasian dishes. It grows in good sunlight and while its growth was originally confined to India, its popularity in local dishes spread throughout Asia and Europe over the centuries. Oddly, its name is derived from the name of a Greek emperor.
Basil pesto is made with olive oil, fine garlic, pine nuts, and basil, of course. Other versions of pesto consisting of sun-dried tomatoes or spinach and can also be found but they are less common in authentic Italian dishes.

Answer: Ginger

Not to be confused with Geri Halliwell, ginger spice is a spicy herb used in Asian cooking. The dried ginger depicted would likely be grated, peeled, or finely chopped before being used in any dishes. Most of the world's ginger supply is grown in India and China. The specific bread mentioned would be gingerbread, commonly used to build cute Christmas houses during the holidays and men with gumdrop buttons, and the specific ale would be ginger ale, a popular carbonated drink which is often used to soothe feelings of nausea. Because of its long-standing popularity as a remedy for minor ailments, ginger is often recommended by those who prefer natural elements.

Answer: Oregano

Oregano is a Mediterranean herb grown in relatively warm weather. Once dried it can be chopped into a finer form to be sprinkled and used as seasoning in Italian dishes. Known for its bitterness, oregano is usually used to season light meats (e.g. fish) or add flavour to pizza and pasta sauces. A Mexican strain of the herb is often used for the same taste.
Oregano is a popular Western spice, and like basil it's often grown indoors in herb gardens. It's used in a number of recipes worldwide, so it's a pretty common name on the spice rack. Like basil again, it's part of the mint family.

Answer: Vanilla

While vanilla was originally native to Mexico, different strains of vanilla have been harvested for decades in Central America, Brazil, China, Madagascar, and Indonesia. Vanilla has a very distinct flavour and is quite well-known worldwide. Due to the difficulty of procuring and harvesting vanilla beans, it has been known as one of the most expensive spices in its concentrated form.
In ice cream, chocolate, and other sweets, artificial vanilla is most frequently used because of the high costs of its natural form. The same flavouring is used in a number of cosmetics due to its pleasing aroma.
Cacao beans, grown in South America and Western Africa, are neither herbs nor spices though they are grown as flavouring. Cacao is the natural seed used in the production of chocolate and they look quite unlike the vanilla bean pod; they're similar to coffee beans but larger.

Answer: Dill

Dill is second to none when making pickles; it's not surprising that it grows so well with cucumbers in a garden. Dill is an herb best suited for fish and cold vegetable dishes as well as a number of Thai and Indian recipes. When placed in brine with cucumbers, the dill stalk or leaves are typically used to add flavour- and thus we have the dill pickle.
Dill, which originated in Eastern Europe (in Russia), can be found all over Eurasia and Western Africa and is best grown in the sunshine. Dill will lose its taste when it dries out, so keep it fresh!

Answer: Saffron

Saffron, the spice, is made from the red stigmas found in the center of the saffron flower, a beautiful purple plant grown in many regions of the eastern hemisphere (including Greece, Spain, Iran, Japan, etc.). Saffron is known as the world's most expensive spice (vanilla comes a distant second) because many saffron flowers only yield a trio of stigmas to be used in cooking.

As a result, many countries harvest saffron from farms. Saffron's taste is distinctly bitter but it's used in a number of regional dishes including Spanish paella, Indian saffron rice, and Indian's national dish, chelow kabab, which includes saffron-infused basmati rice. Saffron is also used for dying purposes.

When used in textiles, it produces an orange-yellow colour much unlike its flower petals or red threads.

Answer: Parsley

While many would probably be unsurprised to find a sprig of parsley on top of a plate of spaghetti, a piece of fish, a steak, or a thick soup, it's also quite the healthy herb. It contains a number of antioxidants and is full of Vitamin K. Because of its abundance, it's one of the most used herbs in the world; it's grown around the Mediterranean in the sun (but in thick, moist soils).
Parsley is often grown in gardens alongside tomatoes and grows not only in the commonly used leaf variety, but as a root vegetable used in European stews.

Answer: Thyme

Thyme is an often-dried herb with a rather strong aroma used to add a strong smell to Middle Eastern, European, and North African dishes. Many opt to use thyme in preparing lamb or to season eggs. It's best used when it's dried out and it's quite good at retaining its strong flavour.

This is particularly true for thyme in tea; it's quite popular in this form to cure coughs or throat issues. Thyme's main component, thymol, is found in most antiseptic cleaners including mouthwash and hand sanitizers. Adversely, according to anti-smoking companies, thymol is one of nearly six hundred ingredients in cigarettes. I guess there's a thyme and a place, right?