Do you know what alligator pears are? How about alternative uses for salt (and no, not as a body scrub)? If you think you know your food, think again!

Compiled by Jillian Q. Gatcheco and Monina Eugenio from Quickfire and Daddylicious

An oyster’s taste will depend on the water from where it came from. Briny, salty or nutty are some of the examples of its taste.

As bell pepper ages, its flavor becomes sweeter. Red bell peppers contain eleven times more beta carotene than green ones, aside from it being high in vitamin C.

Avocados are also known as “alligator pears" because of their shape, texture and color.

Avocados do not ripen until picked from the tree.

Cashew nuts are highly perishable due to their high oil content.

Cherry tomatoes are rich in glutamates. They have a sweeter taste than regular tomatoes, making them great additions to salads.

Glutamate is not only present in tomatoes but also in food like cheese, mushrooms, and meats.

Goat cheese is full, rich, and creamy because it is abundant in glutamate just like breast milk.

Katuray flowers are classic ingredients in Ilocano cuisine. They are added to Ilocano dishes like pinakbet and dinengdeng.

Kesong puti is the Filipino version of cottage cheese. It is made of unskimmed carabao’s milk and tastes lightly salty.

Meats like pork, ground beef, chicken and sausage are usually used to make pates. But vegetarian pates are also available.

Parmesan cheese is rich in glutamates.

Red onions are spicier than white ones.

Salt draws out the moisture from an eggplant.

Saluyot leaves are rich in beta carotene, iron and vitamin C.

Saluyot or jute leaves have been a source of health and beauty since the time of Cleopatra.

Science has proven that our taste buds have fine, distinct, and specific receptor tastes individually.

Spanish sardines are made of sardines, tomato sauce, carrots, pickled cucumber, bay leaf and different spices.

Tahini is a paste made of ground sesame seeds. It is a major component of hummus.

The deep purplish banana flower is called a banana heart because of its shape.

White beans are high in soluble fiber, which helps control blood pressure.

Yoghurt can be used as an alternative to milk by people who are mildly lactose intolerant.

Yoghurt is rich in calcium, keeping your bones strong and preventing osteoporosis.