16 Popular Products That Grow Differently Than the Way We Imagined

3 plants can actually be called bergamot, while Goji berries grow on bushes that are 2 times taller than the average human. People in the 21st century are so accustomed to products from supermarkets that they wouldn’t even recognize many of them in nature.

We at Bright Side decided to correct this oversight and found out how the ordinary products we’re used to seeing look before they hit the shelves in our favorite stores.

Rice

Rice grows at a temperature of 50°F to 54°F directly from the water.

This plant feeds more than half of the world’s population.

There are more than 7,000 varieties of rice in the world. Wild rice is not included in this list.

Lemongrass

This plant is actually called “Cymbopogon” but became known as “lemongrass” due to its smell. The word “Cymbopogon” derives from Greek words “kymbe” which means “boat” and “pogon” which means “beard.” After all, doesn’t it look like a boat with a beard?

This plant is used while preparing various teas, soups, sauces, meat, fish, and curries.

Sesame

Sesame’s second name is benne.

This word is famously used in the fairytale Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves as the magical phrase, “Open Sesame!” There’s a rumor that the author of the tale wanted to liken the sound of the opening cave to the pod bursting from the ripeness of the enclosed sesame seeds.

Goji

Thanks to marketers, Goji berries have been considered incredibly useful and indispensable as they’ve been labeled a superfood recently.

Goji berries’ real name is Lycium barbarum. People also call it wolfberry. However, this name can refer to many plants. Goji doesn’t possess any poisonous qualities.

A goji bush can reach a height of up to 12 feet and is completely covered with thorns.

Bergamot

3 totally different plants can be called bergamot:

• The first one is a citrus fruit obtained by crossing a bitter orange and a citron. It’s the oil of this plant that’s added to “Earl Grey” tea.
• The second one is an herbal plant which is also known as “Monarda.”
• The third one is a special type of pear that is also called “bey pear.”

Cocoa

You can prepare 1 lb of chocolate from the annual crop of one cocoa tree (approximately 30 fruits).

The cocoa tree starts to bear fruit only in the third or fourth year of its lifetime.

You can cook homemade chocolate using powdered cocoa beans, butter, and sugar.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a product that is difficult to find in European and US stores. It’s often called pseudocereal because it’s used the same way cereals are. However, oftentimes it is also used as animal feed.

At the same time, buckwheat can be easily found in Asian countries, especially China and Japan.

Broccoli

It was Pliny the Elder, the famous Roman scientist, who first wrote about broccoli in the 1st century CE. He called this vegetable a “blessed plant.”

Broccoli contains almost all the vitamins necessary for humans. It also lowers cholesterol, preserves beauty, and even protects against cancer.

Quinoa

Quinoa is one of the most healthy grains in the world. The Incas considered this product sacred and called it “the mother of all seeds.”

The composition of quinoa resembles milk and fish, but it tastes like rice.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2013 the International Year of Quinoa.

Vanilla

Vanilla is a type of orchid which is why it’s difficult to grow.

It’s one of the most expensive spices in the world.

The Aztecs used vanilla pods as money in the 14th century.

Vanillin is a synthetic substitute for vanilla and it has nothing to do with the plant.

The smell of vanilla promotes the production of serotonin, which is known as the hormone of happiness.

Ginger

Ginger helps improve memory and concentration because it improves blood circulation in the brain, strengthens blood vessels, and reduces blood pressure.

You can freeze this root for a long time and it won’t lose its useful properties.

Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are also on the list of superfoods. They can be used in almost any dish, especially cereals and salads.

Bacteria die after coming into contact with flax which is why it’s considered a natural antiseptic.

Chia seeds

• Chia is also called Salvia hispanica.
• Chia seeds are one of the main sources of linolenic and other omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids.
• The Aztecs considered this plant to be one of the most important products, along with maize and beans.

Agar-agar

• Agar-agar is a vegetable substitute for gelatin.
• It is obtained from red and brown algae.
• Gracilaria is one of the most popular types of red algae used for producing agar.

Feijoa

• Feijoa contains a lot of iodine, zinc, and vitamins C and B — that’s why this fruit is good for the memory. They increase work efficiency, promote healthy hair and nails, and improve immunity.
• This plant was discovered and brought to Europe by the scientist Silva Feijó.

Saffron

• Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world.
• One needs to collect about 100,000 flowers to get just 2 pounds of saffron spice.
• Saffron is a perfect preservative. Dishes cooked with saffron can be stored out of the fridge for a long time.

Which of these plants would you not recognize outside of the supermarket? We’d be glad to hear from you in the comments!