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Origins series

A street vendor sells oranges in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: Getty Images

Language Matters | The orange’s origins: its journey from East to West and how its name evolved

The orange’s history starts in the Himalayan foothills, with citron the first species to head west and mandarin oranges the last major one to, arriving in England from China in 1805.

‘I thought it was a mistake’: top UK Indian chefs on chicken tikka masala

‘The restaurant was his life’: chicken tikka masala inventor dies aged 77

Language Matters | After one famously outlasted Liz Truss, the origin of the word ‘lettuce’

Lettuce, the ‘queen of the salad plants’, has come a long way from its weedy form first used in ancient Egypt – a favourite of Brexit puns, now it’s used as a measure of political shelf life.

The origins of all varieties of lettuce can be traced to a weedy form first used in ancient Egypt, the pressed seeds of which were a source of cooking oil. Photo: Getty Images

The teapot from hell? Why the classic Chinese design needs a rethink – fast

The spout leaks everywhere, the handle crushes the fingers and the lid falls off all the time ... so why are we still using it in dim sum restaurants the world over?

Why are truffles so expensive, and which species is the best?

What makes the coveted and costly delicacy so very appealing, and are white truffles really worth 10 times their black counterparts?

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Are old Hong Kong’s famous tailors disappearing?

From David Bowie and Stanley Ho, to US presidents and their servicemen, old Hong Kong’s tailors made clothes for everyone – but are TST’s famous suit makers going out of fashion?

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Tailoring to the tycoons (and everyone else), Hong Kong’s old tailors were sewn into the city’s fabric, as evidenced by this shot of shipping magnate Dr Stanley Ho being presented with an elegant worsted three-piece suit by Austin Reed, a British tailor, in 1989. Photo: SCMP

Hong Kong’s Peak Tram, then and now: what can we expect from its upgrade?

The ride, one of the city’s signature attractions, is getting an upgrade to allow bigger carriages to ferry still more tourists up the hill to enjoy the views

Nathan Road through the years: from beach and barracks to neon-lit ‘Golden Mile’

The site of some of Kowloon’s oldest buildings including the graceful Peninsula hotel, the buzzing shopping street remains popular with tourists – and the streetwise sales people that target them

Which of these 5 classic cinemas of old Hong Kong have you visited?

More than just movies, these iconic venues once hosted live theatre and music – from The Beatles to Cantonese opera – but how many of these historic halls are still standing today?

The Princess Theatre on the corner of Nathan Road and Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 1973. Photo: SCMP

Explainer | Why are ramyeon noodles an invitation for sex in K-drama?

Similar to the expression ‘Netflix and chill’, the brazen sexual connotation to ramyeon instant noodles has become a K-drama trope – so where did it start and what makes this recipe so saucy?

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The leads in What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? eat ramen, one of many K-dramas to feature scenes with noodles – but what do they really mean? Photo: @tvN D ENT/Youtube

We know Shah Rukh Khan is a biryani fan, but where does the dish come from?

Shah Rukh Khan swore by Salman Khan’s recipe during lockdown, while local variants of the rice and meat dish are regularly enjoyed across South and East Asia

What is the Lunar New Year chuen hup, or candy box?

The colourful, multi-compartment box filled with sweets, fruits, nuts and seeds is a fixture in Chinese households during Lunar New Year, but what do the different snacks symbolise, and what auspicious qualities do they invite in the coming year? 

Food wars: is kimchi really South Korean or did China’s pao cai come first?

A New York Times ad sparked the latest skirmish in an ongoing dispute about the true origins of the beloved East Asian side dish – so what’s the truth of the matter?

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Opinion | How did mahjong begin, and why is this US ‘refresh’ causing controversy?

A ‘modern makeover’ of the beloved Chinese tile game by US company The Mahjong Line provoked an angry backlash and accusations of cultural appropriation – but where and when was mahjong born?

Mahjong was featured prominently in Hollywood film Crazy Rich Asians. Photos: Crazy Rich Asians, Shutterstock

Asian pizza makers train to make true Neapolitan pizza

Pizza makers from Naples, home of the original pizza, have travelled the world, opening schools and training locals to make authentic Neapolitan pizza. Some of these chefs have since opened their own pizzerias in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

The quintessential American condiment? Ketchup wasn’t even born in the US

Fermented walnuts, anchovies, ginger – the unlikely origins of ketchup, which isn’t really as American as apple pie, but instead has origins in Southeast Asia dating back to the 17th century

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Why do the British love tea so much, and why do they all add milk?

Leave it to Fortnum & Mason, with their 150 varieties, to offer the perfect posh cuppa, with tearista consultations and pairing notes

Drunk for thousands of years, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Photo: Chen Xiaomei

Why do we eat mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival?

Before premium, brand-name mooncakes became the must-gift seasonal treat – there was the legend of moon goddess Chang’e and the folk tale about Ming Dynasty revolutionaries

Would you eat bread made from 4,500-year-old yeast?

Thai beef soup stock simmering for 45 years and a 3-century-old French stew – are perpetual dishes a lot of rot, or is it as they say flavour, flavour, flavour?

Where was baijiu, China’s national drink, born – and why was it nearly banned?

Nicknamed ‘fire water’ and served at up to 60 per cent ABV, the Middle Kingdom’s favoured liquor has been causing headaches for centuries – but how and where was this clear sorghum-based spirit born?

US president Richard Nixon toasts Chinese Prime Minister Zhou Enlai with baijiu in February 1972 in Beijing. Photo: AFP

How these Filipino brands took over the world – from San Miguel to Jollibee

Filipinos have made a home all over the world, and as their most trusted brands have followed, they’ve earned legions of loyal new fans along the way

San Miguel, Max’s Restaurant, Jollibee, Potato Corner … four home-grown Filipino brands you can find all over the world. Photos: Twitter/Instagram

Are Scotch eggs actually Indian, not British?

Mughal curry or Whitby fish dish? The origins of Scotch eggs is the subject of heated debate for Brits and Indians alike

Which came first, Japanese sushi rolls or Korean kimbap?

Japanese records from the second century suggest salted fish fermented in rice was the origin of sushi, while Korea traces the wrapping of rice in seaweed back to the Joseon era

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Italians, Chinese, Arabs – who invented ice cream?

Ice cream can be traced back to 1200BC and Mesopotamia, and early versions were invented all over the world; the turning point came during the Renaissance when the modern gelato emerged.

Sicilian artisan Amaretto ice cream. Photo: Handout

Wonton – crispy or boiled? The great dim sum debate

Maybe MasterChef Australia judge Andy Allen was right to criticise ‘not crunchy’ deep-fried dumplings, after all

Masterchef Australia judge Andy Allen and crispy wontons – who is right in the crispness controversy? Photo: SCMP

Which popular Chinese restaurant staples are truly Chinese?

Fortune cookies are Japanese, prawn crackers Indonesian, everybody knows chow mein is American – but orange chicken might be more authentic than you think

Does the Easter bunny have a kinky side?

Spring is the season of ‘rebirth’, the egg represents life itself, but did you know there is a kinky side to the Easter bunny?

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Origins series
The fascinating histories of all your favourite foods.
last updated:
9 September, 2024
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