The Plants We Eat

The Plants We Eat

By Botanical GardensEducationNatural Sciences
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The Plants We Eat episodes

  • Chia
    Chia, it’s more than just a fuzzy green pet, it’s also a superfood!
    17 min
  • Yew
    Not much of a food in and of itself, this is the story of an ancient plant that has been used from everything from bows to cancer medication.
    16 min
  • The Peanut
    It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when this protein packed legume made its way to the United States, but once it did it had a huge impact on American cuisine. From peanut butter to roasting and boiling, there’s nothing quite as versatile as the peanut.
    28 min
  • Sugarcane
    Sugarcane is the most energetically efficient plant on Earth, storing the energy it gets from the sun in sugar that humans use in their coffee and cake, but sugarcane’s history has its dark side too.
    26 min
  • Corn
    Corn is the quintessential modern crop. From breeding, to stuffing it full of fertilizer and transferring new genes into its DNA, corn is the most manipulated crop in the world.
    23 min
  • The Blueberry
    The blueberry is one of the very few plants native to the United States that has made its way to our dinner plates, but this move is relatively recent, mostly because it wasn’t until recently that we learned the trick to growing this tasty treat.
    24 min
  • The Sweet Potato
    What if a plant was genetically engineered by nature instead of by man? Such is the case with the amazing sweet potato.
    27 min
  • The Poppy
    From World War I to poppy seed buns and heroin, the poppy has a remarkable history bathed in beauty, and tragedy. 
    26 min
  • The Onion
    Onions would be the perfect food if it weren’t for the tears. Why do onions make us cry and what are farmers and researchers doing to help us stop the tears? Join us as we search for the perfect sweet onion.
    34 min

About The Plants We Eat

From the publisher's feed

About The Plants We Eat: From apples and artichokes to digitalis and peyote, our world is full of amazing plants that we interact with on a daily basis. This greenery can sustain us, intoxicate us, cure us of disease, and even kill us. Join us as we investigate the surprising history, biology, and culture behind The Plants We Eat.