The ancient Incas grew potatoes on terraced farms in the Andes Mountains around 200 B.C. Spanish conquistadors brought the potato from South America to Europe in the 1500s. Since then, the… More →

Rice is one of the world's most important cereal crops. From wild plants in Asia and Africa, to its cultivation by ancient peoples 8,000 years ago, rice has helped shape the course of… More →

This fascinating new book explores how one of the world's most important products starts out as sap from a tropical tree and ends up as tires on your family car. Find out how this sap was… More →

The Biography of Silk follows the path of the Silk Road to tell the story of this luxury material. From its origins in China through to its production in major medieval cities, silk has for… More →

Empires were made from the growth and sale of spices and the age of discovery was launched in pursuit of them. Exciting text and historic images explain to children how spices were used to… More →

What was the world like before sugar? Find out how the human desire for sweets made a tropical grass into a valuable commodity around the world. With the use of colorful images and maps, The… More →

How could a relaxing cup of tea become a symbol of revolution? This fascinating new book relates the thousands-year-old history of tea and its sometimes tumultuous trade. The first book on… More →

The Biography of Tobacco takes a fascinating look at a product at the center of great controversy. The addictive drug nicotine found in cigarettes keeps smokers hooked causing a variety of… More →

Fruit or vegetable? Poisonous or 'love apple'? A staple of South America, the tomato made its way to Europe through conquest and trade where it was considered poisonous for hundreds of years. More →

While chocolate steals all the glory, vanilla is the scent and flavor that people cannot seem to live without. Discover the rich history of this orchid bean used in such products as candy,… More →