Careers in Food Technology

The growing consumerism and a fast paced lifestyle have led to a greater demand for packed and processed food. The challenge most food processing units face today is to produce food items which contain minimal amount of chemicals and preservatives yet have optimum appeal and shelf-life. And this has raised the demand for food technologists in the food processing sector.

Food technology has become a lucrative career option for the talented youngsters, thanks to a growing demand for packaged and processed food.

What does a food technologist do?

The primary job of a food technologist is to check the raw materials, maintain clean and hygienic conditions and quality of the food. They examine the food, conduct checks for contamination and adulteration and certify the nutritional value of food. The food technologist should devise improved techniques for processing, conservation and preservation of food items. They must also analyze current consumer trends and latest technologies to develop new product ideas. Continue reading “Careers in Food Technology”

5 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes

Don’t have much time cooking for dinner? Get your hectic day a little less stressful by following these quick and easy cooking recipes without breaking the bank.

Pasta with Shrimp, Spinach, and Leek

Pasta with Shrimp, Spinach, and Leek is a recipe rich in vegetables and protein. This will make your meal both light and full of nutrition in just 20 minutes. Make sure to wash everything before cooking. Here is how to prepare it.

Ingredients: Short Pasta, Unsalted Butter, Leeks, Salt, Black Pepper, Shrimps, Lemon, Cream, Spinach. Continue reading “5 Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes”

The Organic-Conventional Food Debate

You can never get too healthy. Getting and keeping good health is more important than your bank accounts being full. Keeping your health in tune and properly functioning is a good place to invest your resources. Good insurance will allow you access to good doctors that will help in your quest for good health. A couple of really good ways that are inexpensive and can be done anywhere to help improve and maintain good health is a good regular exercise regiment and eating the right kinds of foods. We have an abundance of food choices set before us every time we shop for food, so lets examine the organic versus conventionally grown produce.

Before we begin this journey, we first need to understand the meaning of “organic”. A simple definition would be the process in which the food is actually grown or produced. We now know that organic farming is better for the soil as well as uses less water if it is done correctly, plus there is less pollution due to no chemicals being used such as weed killers or man made fertilizers. The crops are part of a rotation process and any livestock are allowed to mature and fatten naturally without the use of chemicals or antibiotics. They are allowed better more natural diets and cleaner living quarters. Continue reading “The Organic-Conventional Food Debate”

The Benefits of Fava or Broad Beans for Diabetics

Fava beans, as they are called in the Americas, or broad beans, as they are more commonly called in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, have been a part of diet in the eastern Mediterranean since about 6,000 BCE.

They grow in broad, leathery pods, like much enlarged pea pods. Each pod contains three to eight oval beans.

The term broad bean refers to the larger-seeded cultivars that are grown for human food, while horse bean or field bean refers to cultivars with smaller, harder seeds mainly (but not exclusively) used for animal feed.

The fava bean is a hardy plant. It can withstand harsh and cold climates.

Preparing fava beans Continue reading “The Benefits of Fava or Broad Beans for Diabetics”

Slang Terms for Coffee

The first questions about slang terms are where did they come from and how did they originate. Where they originated covers a wide spectrum of places. Some started by military groups during wars while others originated in both men’s and women’s prisons. Others originated in foreign countries, by college students or just groups of people who felt they needed another name for their cup of coffee. This even includes people who don’t drink coffee for its taste, but for the reaction they get when drinking coffee. Some words are more a description than slang. Of the hundreds of terms, those mentioned here a just a sampling.

Slang names that come from where the coffee is grown or made include Java and Cocoa Java from Java Island in Indonesia. Kaffee comes from Switzerland while a Manila comes from the Philippines. An Americano is regular coffee as brewed in America while the Kona comes from coffee grown and brewed on the Kona Coast of Hawaii. Kahwa, which is a French slang word for coffee, actually comes from the Egyptian language that is spoken in the Korcafa area near Ethiopia.

Continue reading “Slang Terms for Coffee”

The Specialty and History of Kumbakonam Degree Coffee

Coffee has for long been a delectable beverage inspiring millions across the globe. Tracing its roots to ancient Ethiopia, coffee is today an acclaimed “global beverage” that has captured the imagination of the masses and lent itself to be an inseparable part of their everyday life. According to a study by Ponte Stefano published in the journal World Development in 2002, over 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed in the world every day, and the numbers are only set to increase everyday!

Kumbakonam is an ancient temple town in South India, known for its vibrant culture, unmatched temple architecture, betel leaves, Carnatic music, and the signature filter coffee brew that has made it stand out with distinction. It is a coffee that has won the hearts, minds and souls of connoisseurs from around the globe simply because of its elegance, balance, intensity and finish. The beauty of the coffee lay in the fact that it could announce its flavor without fanfare, yet make people swish their tongues with a gentle after-taste. Another specialty of the town lies in its presentation of the same coffee in astounding variations. A number of varieties are available, right from a watered down version to a one with pure milk, bitter sweet, dark and all, all customized to the whim of the consumer. Yet, it is a coffee that stands on its own, with no mix of any flavors, be they artificial or natural. Continue reading “The Specialty and History of Kumbakonam Degree Coffee”

From a Cherry to the Cup: The Life and Journey of Coffee Beans

You sit back at your local café, sip your latte or black gold brew, and relax. But did you ever wonder how that Joe got to your cup? Fresh roasted gourmet coffee does not just appear! There is a journey here. Before any roaster can sell coffee wholesale to any café to brew a cup, many things need to happen. Enjoy the journey!

A coffee tree produces a fruit we call a cherry. These are small, like berries and they turn bright red when they are ripe, ready for picking. The skin, is thick and bitter but the fruit underneath is extremely sweet. Its texture is similar to that of grape. Then there is a slimy layer that comes next to help protect the bean. The beans inside are covered by yet another layer that protects the two halves which are covered by yet one last layer called the silver skin. Yeah, a lot of layers! This is where we find the raw green coffee beans. Continue reading “From a Cherry to the Cup: The Life and Journey of Coffee Beans”

Some Facts About Deforestation

Deforestation is a permanent destruction of forests and woods. Deforestation is the conversion of forested area to the non forest land for the use of industrial gain, livestock, and urban use. In the ancient times, most of the land was covered with forests. As the population and other demands damage the earth and it leaded to deforestation.

In all over the world the rate of the destruction of forests is unimaginable. Nearly half of the mature tropical land is destroyed. As the humans are more conscious for searching of new accommodation, and making urban areas, they have become the largest cause of deforestation.

Examples of Deforestation:

Many tropical countries are the victims of deforestation. For example: Continue reading “Some Facts About Deforestation”

How Does Coffee Affect the Environment?

The growth and cultivation of coffee plants have seen a number of changes over the years, resulting in a different impact on the environment. Every American considers coffee to be a popular social beverage and a wonderful way to start the day, but many people do not consider where their Java may come from, and what type of effect it has on the environment!

For this reason, many coffee companies have begun to create specialized styles of coffee that work to benefit the environment instead of affecting it negatively. Many of these coffee companies are created to have a conscience, and even the leading coffee brand, Starbucks, has begun to contribute to environmentally friendly coffee growing practices. Some examples of this are shade grown, organic, and fair trade coffee practices. In fact, socially responsible coffee growing styles are used in over 40 countries, including Mexico, Peru, and Ethiopia.

Continue reading “How Does Coffee Affect the Environment?”

A Quick Guide to Coffee

There are 3 major regions in the world where coffee if grown: Central America, North Africa, and South Asia. Each region has its own distinct flavors and aroma. This comes from the minerals in the particular soil, the amount of precipitation, and the method of processing the beans. For this article, I will use Starbucks as an example; not for promotional reasons but since Starbucks is the most well known in the coffee industry.

Latin America

By far the leading producers of coffee in the world, Brazil alone produces over 2 million metric tones of coffee each year. Latin American coffees go through a process called “washing”. After the beans are picked, they are pulped and fermented for 18 to 36 hours. This fermentation brings out an acidic flavor and smell from the beans. A good example of coffee from this region is the Starbucks Breakfast Blend or Organic Shade Grown Mexico. Continue reading “A Quick Guide to Coffee”