Bubble Tea
The all-in-one beverage and snack
One of the latest beverage crazes to sweep the world consists of large, chewy tapioca balls in a variety of liquids, but bubble tea (or boba) may not contain actual tea, and the bubbles aren't quite what they seem, either.
Cassava
The versatile plant that keeps hundreds of millions from starvation…and kills the unwary
This hugely important tuber—the third-largest source of carbohydrates in the world—is largely unknown in North America except for its role in one specific dessert.
T’ai Chi Ch’uan
The meditative martial art
Is it a gentle exercise program for senior citizens, the ultimate martial art, or both? Unlike karate or judo, t'ai chi is an internal martial art that emphasizes the movement of energy within the body.
Radio Call Letters
Minding your K’s and W’s
In the U.S., radio stations west of the Mississippi have call letters starting with K, while those east of the Mississippi start with W. Except for the ones that don't. The story behind the rule and its exceptions involves a surprising number of unknowns.
Schneeballen
The pastry snowballs from Rothenburg, Germany
It looks like a snowball and tastes like…a valiant effort to cover up a cooking mistake. Meet the strange pastry that's all the rage in a small Bavarian town.
Malaria
Bad air, good vegetables
A bout with malaria is never pleasant, but a run-in with this illness while traveling in Indonesia led me to an all-new appreciation for cooked carrots.
The Questionnaires of James Lipton, Bernard Pivot, and Marcel Proust
What is your favorite list of questions? Your least favorite?
Three well-known personalities popularized lists of questions that are supposed to display the true character of the people who answer them. They also show that the apparently simple task of copying a list poses a challenge.
The Globe Theatre
Shakespeare’s ideal venue, then and now
Shakespeare's famous Globe Theatre, originally built in 1599, bears little resemblance to what most people think of as a theater today. A replica, made as historically accurate as possible, was built in London in 1996.
13 Ways to Find North If You’re Lost in the Woods
Looking for moss on trees is just the beginning
Shocking but true: even in the 21st century, it's still possible to get lost in the woods. If you ever need to figure out which direction is north, you can use any of numerous methods, ranging from high-tech to low-tech to no-tech.
White Tea
Quest for a better brew
Take tender, young tea leaves and dry them quickly without letting them oxidize for a tea with a delicate flavor and, reputedly, numerous health benefits.