Yum But Why?

What if some of the food around you was hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Yum But Why? , Kinara and Aparna explore the world of foraging , from blackberries, dandelions, nettles, cattails, acorns, and even edible flowers to the much bigger questions behind gathering food from the land. They look at how foraging connects to human history, Indigenous stewardship, family traditions, and the w...

Boba isn't just a drink anymore, it's a whole vibe.  In this episode, we explore the surprising history of boba, from its debated origins in 1980s Taiwan to a ten-year court battle over who invented it. We follow the tapioca pearl’s journey from South America to Asia, investigate the unexpected story behind the word “boba,” and discover how bubble tea shops became important gathering pla...

Where did birthday cake actually come from? Why do we blow out candles and make a wish? And why does a Korean birthday start with a bowl of seaweed soup? In this episode, Kinara and Aparna take a delicious trip through the history and science of birthday food. They trace birthday cake all the way back to ancient Greece, uncover the surprisingly dramatic story behind the Happy Birthday song, and to...

Why does ice cream make your brain freeze? Who first invented frozen desserts? And how did people enjoy icy treats thousands of years ago — even in the desert? In this delicious episode of Yum But Why? , Kinara and Aparna dig into the surprisingly global history of ice cream, from ancient Persian faloodeh and Mughal kulfi to stretchy Turkish dondurma , Japanese mochi ice cream, and more. Along the...

New Year's Food Traditions Around the World Ring in the new year with delicious traditions from across the globe! In this episode, we explore why people eat special foods on New Year's Day—from Hoppin' John and collard greens in the American South to 12 grapes at midnight in Spain, from long noodles in Japan to tamales in Mexico. Discover the deep cultural meanings behind these food...

Get ready to test your food knowledge! In this fun-filled trivia episode, we challenge each other (and YOU!) with four rounds of food facts, myths, and mysteries. 🥕 Round 1: Fruit & Veggie Mystery - Can you guess the food from the clues?  🍫 Round 2: Quick-Fire Trivia & Jokes - From chocolate chip cookies to the longest noodle ever recorded!  🍕 Round 3: This or That - Switzerland vs USA...

This fall, we are taking you on a delicious journey through:  🪔 Diwali's Festival of Lights & sweet traditions  🎃 Halloween's 2,000-year journey from turnips to pumpkins  💀 Día de los Muertos beautiful celebration of memory  🌕 China's Mid-Autumn Festival & the legend of Chang'e Did you know jack-o'-lanterns used to be carved from TURNIPS? Or that mooncakes symb...

Join us as we dive into the amazing world of taste buds! 🍕🍋🍫 From the five fantastic flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami) to the truth about spicy foods, sour face scrunches, miracle berries, and even why cats can’t taste sweet, this episode is packed with fun facts, jokes, and a tasty challenge you can try at home. Get ready to explore the flavor party happening right inside your mo...

Episode 1: Fruit or Vegetable? Let’s Settle the Debate! In the very first episode of Yum But Why , mom and daughter duo dive into a classic food mystery: what really makes a fruit a fruit and a vegetable a vegetable? From seed secrets to surprising “fruit-vegetables” like tomatoes and cucumbers, this fun and educational episode is packed with jokes, trivia, and quick food facts. Perfect for curiou...