Plant To Plate: We’re Showing You What Our Favorite Foods Look Like Before They’re Harvested

Despite how tempting that sounds, we recommend that you don’t try and grow your own pistachio tree. Remarkably, it can take nearly a decade to grow a decent amount of pistachios, and some trees even reach their growth peak at 20 years. We find it crazy that some people wait that long to just get one bite out of this fruit!

Kiwis are sometimes called “Chinese gooseberries,” which got the West’s attention during World War II. They were so popular in America that kiwis became a regular export to California after the war was over. That’s some serious kiwi mania. 

Ancient Egyptians practically worshiped cinnamon, so much so that it was worth more than gold. Not only is it useful for cooking, but it also contains medicinal properties. Oil can be used for an anesthetic. Needless to say, cinnamon has more than one use and many advantageous benefits. 

The yellow kind of banana that is the most common is not actually the only type. Amazingly, there are more than 1,000 kinds of bananas in nearly every color of the rainbow! Can you believe there’s a blue banana that tastes exactly like vanilla ice cream? How is that even possible? Our minds are blown!

Surprisingly, they’re quite easy to grow on a bush, and many folks enjoy doing that in Asia. Be careful though – don’t consume too much star fruit because it can be poisonous to those who have kidney problems. This is a friendly reminder to always check in with your doctor before eating exotic and unusual foods. 

Although we’ve never taken a bite out of the flowers before, people say they taste just like the plant, but slightly sweeter. We suggest you fry these potassium-filled vegetables before you mix them into a meal. The result is a chef’s kiss!

The origins of broccoli’s name may come as a surprise (or not). It stems from the Italian word “broccolo” which means “flowery cabbage top.” No machines can actually harvest it – it has to be handpicked, just as in the photo. 

Black peppercorns can come in different colors, just like grapes. If you choose the green ones, they become black pepper, while the dark green ones make white pepper. Yeah – both come from the same plant! So wild. 

While sesame seeds might be a recent health kick, they’ve actually been around for over 3,000 years. They grow especially well in parts of Africa, which is because they are resistant to dry weather. Needless to say, sesame seeds are incredibly tough! 

These ravishingly delicious berries don’t achieve their classic blue color until later in the harvesting process. Blueberries can spoil pretty quickly, so make sure you eat them as soon as possible before they go bad. Or, you can also try and preserve them to make jams and jellies. 

Also, their shape is similar to edamame, and are in the same family. Edamame is slightly healthier than chickpeas since it has fewer carbohydrates. Sadly, they are nowhere as versatile as chickpeas which can be blended into different meals. 

Although the beans will jolt you with energy, they will not taste pleasant. Before people would turn coffee into the ultra-popular drink that it is today, it used to be turned into something else (kind of like wine). For those who are coffee addicts, just try not to overdose on it. 

If you want to grow your own asparagus, you will need to be patient. Asparagus needs up to 3 years to fully grow and mature, after which it will yield a harvest every day. It could be worth it since asparagus is full of vitamins and fiber.

With the lack of vinegar or salt, capers would have a very different taste. If you want to harvest them yourself, go for the flower buds that are a bit larger. The larger buds result in a stronger flavor and will be a great companion to cream cheese. 

They appear more like grass instead of edible plants. People have been enjoying lentils for thousands of years. Lentils originally came from central Asia and dispersed throughout the world. Ancient Egyptians even kept some lentils in their tombs – imagine that!

Leeks were an important part of Welsh culture and were used by soldiers as a representation of loyalty to their nation. Of course, a badge would have fit much better. Not only are leeks important to the Welsh, but they also possess antioxidants and anticancer properties.

We’re not sure how likely it is that you will come across another plant as vibrant as an artichoke plant. A word to the wise: if you’re wanting to grow them at home, make sure there is plenty of heat and moisture. Artichokes do the best near the equator region, in locations such as the Mediterranean. 

It’s another food that you will commonly find in really hot countries, such as Madagasgar, Tahiti, and Mexico. Vanilla has many wonderful uses! Not only do vanilla-scented candles have the best smell, but it also goes really well as a syrup add-on to various or tea coffee drinks, as well. 

Saffron is not something you will typically see growing nearby, and it’s actually quite expensive! One pound of this stuff can cost up to $5,000, a cost that is reflected in the labor time and rarity. The three red twigs (stigma) are the only parts of the flower that are used for the spice. 

When they look like how they are in the photo, poppy seeds are edible and produce a nutty flavor. Scientists extract chemicals from the poppy flower to create powerful painkillers like morphine. Another use for poppy seeds is in bagels which are absolutely scrumptious, especially with butter or cream cheese spread on the top. 

Manufacturers send shipments of ground nutmeg very quickly so it doesn’t lose its flavor. It’s more efficient to store nutmeg whole since it will last much longer that way. Be careful though – too much can make you hallucinate. 

These vibrant and pink fruits hang near the bottom of the plant, near the lengthy leaves. Apparently, the name came from the legend that they were originally dragon eggs. Well, they do look like they could be from Game of Thrones. 

They are part of the buds (not the flowers) even though you can use the flowers in a recipe. Unfortunately, you have to wait until they turn red before you can harvest them. 

It also comes from the same family as cotton and cacao, though we suggest not eating those directly from the plant. Every part of an okra plant is edible, including the flower. You can press this into oil or use it as a coffee replacement. 

Pineapples must have a hot environment for them to thrive, such as in West Africa and Latin America. Even though they look pretty weird, planting them is even weirder. You need to plant the top portion of the pineapple in order to get another one started. Don’t get your hopes up, though! These can take years to bear fruit. 

It’s easy to identify when mangos are ready to be picked because they will hang down, nearly ready to fall on the ground. Mangos are another fruit with a vast history, dating back to over 5,000 years in India. Also, they are part of the fake-nut family with pistachios and cashews.

Despite being beautiful when they blossom, they’re not the best for the environment since they require specific weather conditions. They can be ground to make plant-based milk, but require lots of water. So, the takeaway is that it might not be worth the negative environmental impact to grow these. 

Cacao beans were first used by the Aztecs thousands of years ago and they quickly spread around the world. However, because it was so difficult to create, chocolate was a luxury that only the wealthy could afford. Only recently has it become more accessible to people. 

They’re known as a “super fruit” due to their ability to treat diseases, among other health issues. You can find these chemicals in all parts of the plant, all the way from the leaves to the roots. Of course, they are also extremely delicious.