40 Common Foods That Look Far Different In Their Natural Forms
We all know pineapples grow on trees... or do they grow on bushes? Perhaps they fall from the sky. We buy and eat our food without a care in the world, knowing nothing of the bizarre journey it may have taken to get to your mouth. And when some of our favorite fruits and veggies are growing, they look really weird. The odd-looking origins of these popular plants and grains will have you wondering why people even decided to eat them in the first place.
1. Cashews
Have you ever heard of a cashew apple? Believe it or not, cashews grow inside protective shells from the bottom of the cashew apple (which grows on a tree). The "apple" itself is often used to make jellies and curries, and can even be eaten fresh!
2. Cacao
Chocoholics know all about cacao. The seeds reside inside football-shaped pods, or fruit, that grow on the Theobroma cacao tree. From there, the seeds are roasted and fermented to make chocolate. It's a long process, but if you've ever taken a bite out of a Godiva truffle, you know it's worth it.
3. Quinoa
Quinoa this, quinoa that, we get it. It's an "anti-aging supergrain" that actually isn't a grain at all! Trader Joe's is all over it, but where does it come from? Well, inside these dull, mauve-hued flowers are seeds, AKA quinoa. And you can even toss the leaves of the quinoa plant into a salad!
4. Asparagus
Perhaps you thought of them growing in clusters, maybe on a bush, who knows. But asparagus grows straight up from the soil, looking just as it does next to your steak and garlic mashed potatoes. Though they can grow from seeds, asparagus shoots are most often grown from 1-year-old plants called “crowns.”
