😰Cordial: Did it keep us alive as kids? Plus, what the hell is a 'shrub'?🍹

You know the salad we mean. It was everywhere in the early 2010s! We find out if it was actually good and why it graced every Christmas and BBQ table for a good decade there. Plus: are pomegranates worth the effort and inevitable kitchen stains? Ben explores pomegranate’s darker, stickier side and investigates whether adding pomegranate to beer is a stroke of genius or something you should never ever do again.Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a single drop of water never passed your lips throughout the '80s and '90s, you will relate to this 'Coola'-flavoured episode. Ben tells tales from his childhood in the battleground that is junior spot and Em makes a more 'adult' version of cordial with (SHOCK HORROR)... real fruit. Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: in this episode we play a snippet from the very first episode of Ingredipedia back in 2015 and... eeek. It's a bit cringe, but there's a rhyme and reason ok!? It's because 'pickles' was our first ever episode topic and we feel like so much has changed in the pickle world since then... it's high time we did a pickle sequel.  So, how did pickles go from burger afterthought to full-blown personality trait? In our first ever ingredient sequel, we unpack how pickles became Gen Z’s avocado -- from fashion statements to elite sport hydration and the cult of the McDonald’s pickle.  Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who knew these pale pink sticks were so polarising?! Not us, until we researched them in detail for a whole week. Let's head to the milk bar and deep dive into rosewater's trashy sister.Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sure, it's the most mocked leafy green but does it have a secret treat lurking within it? And why are we suddenly gnawing a head of lettuce like an apple? And yes, we do a while experiment on hydration, pondering whether iceberg lettuce can replace our drink bottles. If you'd like to see the original 'trash man' salad mentioned in the episode here's the link.  Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Step into the future with us and find out what the hell lab-grown meat actually is. Is it meat? Can vegetarians eat it? How the hell is it made? We unpack it all and what it means for ethics, animals and menus… plus, we actually eat it! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ah, supermarket Mud Cake. $6 of sugar and regret. But what happens if you should present one to Emily for an office birthday? (Hint: BEWARE). Meanwhile, what does supermarket Mud Cake have to with Easter? And are the big chains even trying any more? (0:58) The saddest birthday cake (7:20) Hot Cross Buns Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy new year, pals! We're back! Where did all the apricot snacks go? They were a staple food group of the 1990s and now we go years without thinking about the humble apricot… WHY!? In our first episode back for 2026, Ben proposes a restaurant dedicated to apricot chicken, Em pines over long lost snacks and we eat a fresh apricot… correctly.Whose apricot facts did you like best? Vote for Em or Ben on our Instagram, @ingredipedia. Poll up Sunday night! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a humble green fruit really help you sleep better? And more controversially… does it belong on a margherita? This week, we investigate the kiwi fruit: its surprising sleep science and its unexpected cameo on pizza. We also explore the fruit’s fuzzy history: where it came from and why it’s called “kiwi” (spoiler: it’s not originally from New Zealand). Also, hot sauce (obviously). [1.59] Oh no, not pizza![7.51] A different kind of salsa verde[15.02] Can kiwi fruit help insomnia?[18.47] Why is it called 'kiwi'?Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a reheated episode from earlier in the year while we take a short break! Back with a freshly baked episode on January 19.Can matcha give you a jitter-free caffeine boost (unlike coffee)? And we explore whether “ceremonial grade” is a con. And yes, we look into what’s next in the iced strawberry matcha latte world and also think about whether matcha can make ANYTHING better!Follow us on Instagram (@ingredipedia) and TikTok (@ingredipedia) to see visuals of our weird and snacky food pursuits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.