Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Basil · Mint · Parsley · Sage
Answer: Basil
Basil! It goes wonderfully with tomatoes, and it's what pesto is made from.
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Basil to saffron — the plants that flavor our food — answers and explanations for all 80 questions. Cover the answer, have a guess first, then check the explanation. Want to play it as a quiz? Try it at the Quiz Playground!
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Basil · Mint · Parsley · Sage
Answer: Basil
Basil! It goes wonderfully with tomatoes, and it's what pesto is made from.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Basil · Mint · Thyme · Dill
Answer: Mint
Mint! Rub a leaf and you get that cool, fresh smell.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Dill · Parsley · Rosemary · Oregano
Answer: Rosemary
Rosemary! Its leaves look like little pine needles.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Sage · Basil · Mint · Thyme
Answer: Thyme
Thyme! Tiny leaves with a big smell — lovely with chicken.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Oregano · Chamomile · Lavender · Parsley
Answer: Oregano
Oregano! It's the herb you smell on a pizza.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Coriander · Sage · Dill · Mint
Answer: Sage
Sage! Its soft gray-green leaves go into stuffing at Thanksgiving.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Lavender · Thyme · Parsley · Basil
Answer: Parsley
Parsley! It's the curly green sprig that decorates a plate.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Rosemary · Sage · Oregano · Dill
Answer: Dill
Dill! Its feathery leaves are what make pickles taste like pickles.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Coriander (cilantro) · Basil · Parsley · Mint
Answer: Coriander (cilantro)
Coriander, also called cilantro! Some people love it and some think it tastes like soap — that difference is in your genes.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Thyme · Lavender · Rosemary · Oregano
Answer: Lavender
Lavender! Its purple flowers smell so good they go into soap and perfume.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Basil · Dill · Chamomile · Sage
Answer: Chamomile
Chamomile! It looks like a little daisy, and people drink it as a calming tea.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Mint · Parsley · Chive · Lemongrass
Answer: Lemongrass
Lemongrass! It's a grass that smells of lemon, used in Thai cooking.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Ginger · Garlic · Onion · Potato
Answer: Ginger
Ginger! It's a root with a warm, spicy kick — think gingerbread and ginger ale.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Cactus · Aloe · Agave · Lavender
Answer: Aloe
Aloe! The gel inside its plump leaves is soothing on a burn.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Lettuce · Cabbage · Spinach · Basil
Answer: Spinach
Spinach! It's packed with iron — Popeye's favorite.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Lemongrass · Rosemary · Dill · Garlic chives
Answer: Garlic chives
Garlic chives! Long flat leaves that taste faintly of garlic.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Perilla leaf · Basil · Spinach · Mint
Answer: Perilla leaf
Perilla leaf! In Korea people wrap food in it — it's a cousin of mint and basil.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Parsley · Water dropwort (minari) · Celery · Dill
Answer: Water dropwort (minari)
Water dropwort, or minari! It's a fresh, crisp green that grows in water.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Onion · Leek · Wild chives · Grass
Answer: Wild chives
Wild chives! They're tiny, with a little round bulb and a sharp garlic-onion smell.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Basil · Sage · Parsley · Mugwort
Answer: Mugwort
Mugwort! It grows wild all over Europe and Asia, and goes into teas and rice cakes.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Crown daisy · Spinach · Parsley · Lettuce
Answer: Crown daisy
Crown daisy, also called garland chrysanthemum! Its leaves go into hot pots and stews.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Dandelion · Shepherd's purse · Clover · Mint
Answer: Shepherd's purse
Shepherd's purse! It's a common little weed, named for its heart-shaped seed pods.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Lettuce · Cabbage · Sowthistle · Basil
Answer: Sowthistle
Sowthistle! A wild green with a bitter bite — it grows almost everywhere in the world.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Moss · Seaweed · Grass · Bracken fern
Answer: Bracken fern
Bracken fern! Its young shoots curl up like the head of a violin — people call those fiddleheads.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Balloon flower root · Ginger · Carrot · Radish
Answer: Balloon flower root
Balloon flower root! In the West the plant is grown for its pretty flowers; in Korea the root is eaten.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Lettuce · Kelp (kombu) · Spinach · Moss
Answer: Kelp (kombu)
Kelp, or kombu! It's simmered to make a savory soup stock.
Q. What is the name of this herb or plant?
Options: Paper · Cloth · Laver (nori) · Leaf
Answer: Laver (nori)
Laver, or nori! It's the black seaweed sheet wrapped around sushi and gimbap.
Q. What is an 'herb'?
Options: A big tree · A sea creature · An insect · A plant grown for its smell, taste, or medicine
Answer: A plant grown for its smell, taste, or medicine
Herbs are helpful, fragrant plants we grow on purpose.
Q. Which part of an herb usually carries the smell?
Options: Only the bark · The leaves (and sometimes the flowers) · Only the roots · Only the seeds
Answer: The leaves (and sometimes the flowers)
Rub a leaf between your fingers and the scent spreads!
Q. What's the difference between an herb and a spice?
Options: They're exactly the same · Herbs are leaves; spices come from seeds, bark, roots and the like · Herbs are sweet, spices are salty · Spices are always red
Answer: Herbs are leaves; spices come from seeds, bark, roots and the like
Basil leaf is an herb; cinnamon bark and pepper seed are spices.
Q. Which is NOT an herb or spice?
Options: Salt · Basil · Cinnamon · Pepper
Answer: Salt
Salt is a mineral, not a plant! It comes from the sea or from rock.
Q. Why do we put herbs and spices in food?
Options: To make it colder · To make it heavier · To add smell and flavor · To take the color out
Answer: To add smell and flavor
A pinch of herbs makes the whole dish smell wonderful!
Q. Which herb goes best with tomato and is used in pesto?
Options: Basil · Dill · Rosemary · Chamomile
Answer: Basil
Tomato and basil — a classic Italian pair!
Q. Which herb do you smell on a pizza?
Options: Lavender · Oregano · Aloe · Ginger
Answer: Oregano
Oregano is the smell of pizza!
Q. Which herb is put in pickles?
Options: Mint · Chamomile · Dill · Lavender
Answer: Dill
Dill pickles are named after the herb!
Q. Which herb goes into the stuffing at Thanksgiving?
Options: Basil · Lemongrass · Mint · Sage
Answer: Sage
Sage is the classic taste of stuffing.
Q. Which herb is used in Thai cooking and smells of lemon?
Options: Lemongrass · Parsley · Sage · Oregano
Answer: Lemongrass
Lemongrass! It's a grass, not a lemon.
Q. Which herb is famous for tasting like soap to some people?
Options: Basil · Coriander (cilantro) · Parsley · Thyme
Answer: Coriander (cilantro)
It's down to your genes! To some people cilantro tastes fresh, to others soapy.
Q. Which herb often decorates the edge of a plate?
Options: Lavender · Aloe · Parsley · Ginger
Answer: Parsley
A curly sprig of parsley — and you can eat it too!
Q. Which herb is used in perfume and soap for its scent?
Options: Spinach · Dill · Oregano · Lavender
Answer: Lavender
Lavender's smell is famously calming.
Q. Which herb is drunk as a calming tea before bed?
Options: Chamomile · Oregano · Basil · Parsley
Answer: Chamomile
Chamomile tea is a bedtime favorite.
Q. Which herb flavors toothpaste and chewing gum?
Options: Sage · Mint · Dill · Rosemary
Answer: Mint
Mint makes your mouth feel cool and fresh!
Q. Why does mint feel cool in your mouth?
Options: It really is cold · It has ice inside · Something in it tricks the nerves that sense cold · It's wet
Answer: Something in it tricks the nerves that sense cold
Menthol switches on your 'cold' nerves, even though nothing got colder!
Q. Which herb's leaves look like tiny pine needles?
Options: Basil · Parsley · Spinach · Rosemary
Answer: Rosemary
Rosemary! It's lovely with roast potatoes.
Q. Where does black pepper come from?
Options: The dried fruit of a vine · A stone · A sea creature · Tree sap
Answer: The dried fruit of a vine
Peppercorns are little dried berries from a climbing vine.
Q. Where does cinnamon come from?
Options: A flower · The bark of a tree · A root · A leaf
Answer: The bark of a tree
Cinnamon is rolled-up tree bark! Those sticks are called quills.
Q. Where does vanilla come from?
Options: A tree's bark · A fish · The seed pod of an orchid · A stone
Answer: The seed pod of an orchid
Vanilla is the pod of an orchid — the only orchid we eat.
Q. Which spice makes curry yellow?
Options: Pepper · Salt · Cinnamon · Turmeric
Answer: Turmeric
Turmeric! It stains everything a bright yellow.
Q. Which spice is the most expensive in the world?
Options: Saffron · Pepper · Salt · Cinnamon
Answer: Saffron
Saffron! It's the tiny threads from inside a crocus flower, picked by hand.
Q. Which part of a crocus flower is saffron?
Options: The roots · The threads inside the flower · The leaves · The stem
Answer: The threads inside the flower
It takes thousands of flowers to make a tiny jar!
Q. What makes chili peppers hot?
Options: Sugar · Salt · Capsaicin · Oil
Answer: Capsaicin
Capsaicin isn't really a taste — it tricks you into feeling heat.
Q. What helps most when your mouth is burning from chili?
Options: Water · Air · Ice cubes only · Milk
Answer: Milk
Milk works better than water, because the burn doesn't wash off with water.
Q. Which spice is a bulb that you break into cloves?
Options: Garlic · Ginger · Pepper · Cinnamon
Answer: Garlic
Garlic! One bulb splits into lots of little cloves.
Q. Which part of the ginger plant do we use?
Options: The flower · The underground stem (the root you see in shops) · The leaves · The seeds
Answer: The underground stem (the root you see in shops)
That knobbly 'ginger root' is really an underground stem.
Q. Which sweet treat is flavored with ginger?
Options: Ice cream cone · Popcorn · Gingerbread · Pretzel
Answer: Gingerbread
Gingerbread — and a gingerbread man!
Q. Which spice goes in pumpkin pie along with cinnamon?
Options: Basil · Oregano · Dill · Nutmeg
Answer: Nutmeg
Nutmeg! It's a seed you grate into a powder.
Q. Which spice looks like a little dried flower bud?
Options: Cloves · Pepper · Salt · Turmeric
Answer: Cloves
Cloves! People push them into an orange to make it smell lovely.
Q. What is paprika made from?
Options: Fish · Dried sweet peppers, ground up · Tree bark · Salt
Answer: Dried sweet peppers, ground up
Paprika is ground-up dried peppers — red and mild.
Q. Which leaf is dropped into a stew and then taken out before eating?
Options: A basil leaf · A mint leaf · A bay leaf · A spinach leaf
Answer: A bay leaf
A bay leaf gives its flavor to the pot, but it's too tough to eat.
Q. Long ago, why were spices worth so much money?
Options: They were pretty · They were light · They were free · They came from far away and made food taste and keep better
Answer: They came from far away and made food taste and keep better
People sailed across whole oceans for pepper and cloves!
Q. Which famous trade route carried spices between East and West?
Options: The Silk Road · The Moon road · The Ice road · The Sky road
Answer: The Silk Road
Silk and spices traveled the same long road.
Q. Columbus set sail hoping to find a shorter route to which place?
Options: Antarctica · The spice lands of the Indies · The Moon · Africa's south pole
Answer: The spice lands of the Indies
He was chasing spices — and bumped into the Americas instead!
Q. What's the best spot to grow herbs at home?
Options: In a dark closet · In the freezer · A sunny windowsill · Underwater
Answer: A sunny windowsill
Herbs want sunshine and fresh air.
Q. If you pick a few leaves at a time from a potted herb, what happens?
Options: It dies at once · Only flowers grow · The roots die · New leaves grow, so it lasts a long time
Answer: New leaves grow, so it lasts a long time
Pick a little and it keeps on giving!
Q. How do you keep herbs for a long time?
Options: Dry them or freeze them · Leave them in water · Leave them in the sun for weeks · Just leave them out
Answer: Dry them or freeze them
Dried herbs keep in a jar for months.
Q. How are dried herbs different from fresh ones?
Options: They're colder · The flavor is more concentrated, so you use less · They're sweeter · They're heavier
Answer: The flavor is more concentrated, so you use less
A little dried oregano goes a long way!
Q. What is 'herbal tea'?
Options: Tea made of rocks · A drink made by steeping herbs in hot water · Ice water · Milk
Answer: A drink made by steeping herbs in hot water
Chamomile, mint, lemongrass — all lovely as tea.
Q. What is aloe gel most used for?
Options: Making tires · Making pencils · Soothing burns and skin · Making paper
Answer: Soothing burns and skin
Snap a leaf and the cool gel goes on your skin.
Q. Long ago, before modern medicine, what were herbs often used as?
Options: Toys · Money only · Building material · Medicine
Answer: Medicine
Many modern medicines started out as plants!
Q. What should you do with a plant you don't recognize?
Options: Don't eat or touch it — ask a grown-up · Taste a little · Rub it on your skin · Eat it if it smells nice
Answer: Don't eat or touch it — ask a grown-up
Some plants that look like herbs are poisonous. Always ask!
Q. What do you call a wild green picked from fields and hills rather than grown on a farm?
Options: A tropical fruit · A wild green (a forage green) · A grain · A greenhouse vegetable
Answer: A wild green (a forage green)
People have gathered wild greens for thousands of years.
Q. Nori and kelp come from where?
Options: Underground · The desert · The sea · Trees
Answer: The sea
They're seaweeds — vegetables of the sea!
Q. What is nori (laver) mostly used for?
Options: Writing on · Making clothes · Building · Wrapping sushi and gimbap
Answer: Wrapping sushi and gimbap
That black sheet around your sushi roll is nori.
Q. What is kelp (kombu) used for in cooking?
Options: Making a savory soup stock · Making bread rise · Sweetening dessert · Coloring rice red
Answer: Making a savory soup stock
Simmer kombu and you get a deep, savory broth.
Q. Which green is Popeye famous for eating?
Options: Lettuce · Spinach · Cabbage · Basil
Answer: Spinach
Spinach! It really is full of iron and vitamins.
Q. What do people in Korea use perilla leaves for?
Options: Making paper · Wrapping food to eat · Making rope · Painting
Answer: Wrapping food to eat
You wrap rice and meat in the leaf and eat it in one bite.
Q. Which of these is NOT an herb?
Options: Basil · Rosemary · Potato · Lavender
Answer: Potato
A potato is a tuber you eat to fill up — not a plant grown for scent or flavor.
Q. What do garlic chives taste of?
Options: Sweet like sugar · Sour like lemon · A gentle garlic-onion flavor · Nothing at all
Answer: A gentle garlic-onion flavor
The clue is in the name!
Q. If you cut chives, what happens?
Options: They die · They grow back, so you can cut them again · Only flowers grow · They turn into garlic
Answer: They grow back, so you can cut them again
Cut them and up they come again — several harvests from one plant.
Q. Why do herbs make their strong smells in the first place?
Options: To be sold in shops · To look pretty · To keep bugs and animals from eating them · For no reason
Answer: To keep bugs and animals from eating them
That lovely smell is really the plant's way of defending itself!