The key to a successful start-up is really getting started: you have a quality product, a dazzling marketing campaign—all your ducks are in a row. The next step is to take that quality product and turn it into a consistent, commercial product that’s ready for the market. For start-up coffee roasters, one of your initial […]

Tea is the most universal of prepared beverages, spanning both time and geography. From the common breakfast tea available your local supermarket to the most delicate white teas to the earthy and mysterious Pu’er, teas come in a range of kinds and flavors to suit virtually any palette. But tea isn’t just a tasty drink; […]

Many of us like to believe that we make food choices based on solid science; we read the labels, consider ingredients, and select items that fit into particular nutritional categories. While it is true that we may be more educated and health-conscious than ever before, research has repeatedly shown that however logical we may believe ourselves to […]

Beans are one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world and have served as a vital source of dietary protein for thousands of years. Today, there are over 40,000 bean varieties in existence, with dozens being commercially mass-produced for the consumer market in countries around the world. Although beans share a similar general appearance, […]

The spice trade has one of the longest and richest histories of any industry. It has built empires, caused wars, led to the discovery of new lands, and enriched both the diets and the pocketbooks of people around the globe. The establishment of spice trade routes has shaped our world in immeasurable ways and some […]

In my dog’s ten years with me, she has enjoyed all manner of gourmet pet foods. There was our grain-free period, followed by organic local kibble. Then came the dehydrated pre-mix and, ultimately, the premade raw food. I will never know if this food is actually healthier for her than traditional options, but I believe it […]

The winemaking process is typically associated more with centuries-old tradition than cutting-edge technology. For many of us, the process of creating wine is imagined to be almost a form of alchemy, a mysterious and magical transformation. But at the research winery at the University of California, Davis, wine experts are marrying time-honored winemaking techniques with […]