Asia Continent

 The Origins Of Food By Continent
Ajwain (Ajwana Caraway, Carom Seas) was already used by the Egyptians. Today it is used all the way from India to Ethiopia. Origins in Africa and the Middle East. Spices & Herbs
Alexanders (Alice and Naders Horse parsley, Smirnium) is a native of North Africa, Europe, and southwest Asia. Appreciated by both Romans and Greeks, replaced today by similar celery. Spices & Herbs
Almond is native to the Middle East. Fruits & Nuts
Amra is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts
Anise (also aniseed) is native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia. In use in Europe and Asia. Spices & Herbs
Aonori (also green laver) is seaweed cultivated in Japan. Vegetables

Apple all the apples we have today are believed to stem from an original species that grew in Central and Southwestern Asia. Today they have spread around the world and have been bred into over 7000 different kinds. Fruits & Nuts

Apricot is native to southwestern Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Arhat is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Armenian cucumber (also yard-long cucumber, snake cucumber, snake melon, Uri) is a cultivar of melon with origin in southwestern Asia. Vegetables

Asafoetida (also devil´s dung, ascent, food of the gods, stinking gum) is native to Southern Asia and the Middle East. Smelly when raw, common in some Indian cuisines. Spices & Herbs

Asparagus are several types, originally native to West Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Vegetables

Aubergine (also eggplant, melongene, brinjal) is native to South Asia, it was cultivated first in India. Vegetables

Ayran is a drink mix of yogurt, water, and salt. It is from the Middle East. Dairy Products

Azuki bean was domesticated thousands of years ago in the Himalayas. Vegetables

Bactrian camel is of the family Camelidae and distinguishes themselves with two impressive lumps of fat on their back, many times just referred to as "camel". Native to northeastern Asia. A great beast of burden but also a provider of milk and meat. Livestock

Bael (also bilva, wood apple) is native to South and Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Baked milk has its roots in Russia where it is still popular. By simmering milk at low temperature for many hours a brownish sweet liquid with a crust is obtained, industrial methods differ. It is used for desserts and baking sweetbreads. Dairy Products

Bamboo shoot (also bamboo sprout) is like the name suggests sprouts from some types of bamboo that are just out of the ground. Bamboos are native to Australia, Asia, Africa, and the Americas but were only traditionally cultivated for sprouts in Asia. Vegetables

Banana (also pisang) and softer varieties of the Musa family. Native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Barley Wild barley is native to Africa, Europe, and Asia. Widely grown as a base for beverages like beer. Very important in Europe before wheat took over. Grains & Cereals

Basil is native to tropical regions in Asia. There are several varieties. The one common in Italian cuisine is known as sweet basil, Asian varieties are Thai basil, African basil, lemon basil, and holy basil. Nowadays it is cultivated all over the world. Spices & Herbs

Bay leaf (also bay laurel) is to southwestern Asia but common today in parts of India and Asia. Several similar species are "incorrectly" labeled bay leaves, the include California-, Indonesian- and Indian bay leaf which are unrelated. Spices & Herbs

Beach mushroom (also shimeji) is native to East Asia. Mushrooms

Beetroot (garden beet, red beet, table beet) is a typically developed assortment of beet that is local to Europe and Asia. Both roots and leafs can be used. Vegetables

Bengal fig Bengal figs (Indian figs, even Indian bananas) are native to South Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Betel nut is actually areca nuts wrapped in betel leaves. Native to Asia and the Pacific. Mildly narcotic. Fruits & Nuts

Bilberry (also blåbär, whortleberry, ground hurts, whinberry, wimberry, myrtle blueberry, and fraughanare) is native in temperate regions in Asia and Europe. Fruits & Nuts

Bilimbi (also cucumber tree) is a fruit related to carambola. Native to Indonesia. Fruits & Nuts
Bitter melon (also bitter gourd, karela)(bitter curry, even caramel) signifies very bitter fruit in the name. In the same family as melons and cucumbers. Probably native to tropical South and Southeast Asia, today also found in Africa and the Americas. Vegetables
Black cardamom (also brown cardamom) are a few varieties native to northeastern India and southern China. Gets its special taste through a smoking process. Spices & Herbs
Black cumin (also Kala jeera) is native to northern India. Similar in appearance but not related to cumin. Spices & Herbs
Black-eyed pea (black-eyed bean) is a bean that is related to the cowpea. Native to India. Vegetables
Black gram (also urad, black lentil, urad dal) a bean first cultivated in India. Vegetables
Black salsify (also Spanish salsify, black oyster plant, serpent root, viper's herb, viper's grass) is a root vegetable native to southern Europe and southwestern Asia. Vegetables
Blackberry are several species that are native to temperate areas in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. Fruits & Nuts
Blackcurrant (also cassis) belongs to the family ribes. Used to make jellies and drinks. Native to temperate areas in the northern hemisphere. Fruits & Nuts
Borage (also starflower) is native to Syria. It has spread over parts of Europe, North Africa and the Americas where it sometimes is used as a culinary herb and vegetable. Spices & Herbs
Breadfruit is native to Southeast Asia and the Pacific but is commonly grown around the world. Fruits & Nuts
Brown mustard is the seeds from mustard greens native to parts of Asia. Today the most common mustard seed. Spices & Herbs
Buckwheat is actually a plant that has its botanical origin in two species, one native to North America and the other to Europe and Asia It was first domesticated in China about 8000 years ago. Grains & Cereals
Buddha´s hand (fingered citron) is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts
Burmese grape is native to tropical regions in South and Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts
Butter is produced in a process where you soak the cream in milk. It is believed that butter was used in the Middle East as early as 10000 BC, after which it was made not from cow's milk but from goat or lamb meat. Dairy Products
Buttermilk is a liquid that is left over when you soak the cream in butter. It is thicker than milk but not too thick. Dairy Products
Button mangosteen (cherapu) is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts
Cabbage (also head cabbage, heading cabbage) was cultivated in ancient times from wild mustard native to the Mediterranean. Vegetables
Calabash (also bottle gourd) are various species native to the tropics around the old world. Widely used as a container. Fruits & Nuts
Calamondin is a citrus crossbreed commonly cultivated in the Philippines. Fruits & Nuts
Cambodian palm (also Asian palmyra palm, toddy palm, sugar palm) is native to South and Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts
Camphor laurel (also camphorwood, camphor tree) The Kapoor or Rail (also Camp Camp wood, Co Mpertree) is a native of East Asia. There is a tree that produces the substance Kapoor which is used as a spice in Asia.  Spices & Herbs
Camu is Amazon's native berry. Fruits & Nuts
Candlenut (also candleberry, Indian walnut, kukui nut tree) The candle (also the candle, the Indian nut, the Kukui nut tree) is native to the tropical regions of the world. In Southeast Asia and Hawaii, it is very common in cuisines. Spices & Herbs

Carambola (also starfruit) is native to South and Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Caraway (likewise Persian cumin, Meridian fennel) is local to West Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Are developed for their little organic products that are extremely well known in cooking styles in Europe.  Indian cuisine generally does not get confused with cumin. Spices & Herbs

Cardamom Ginger relative. It is a generic term for some varieties that normally are divided in two; black and green cardamom, both are native to India. Spices & Herbs

Carob is native to the Mediterranean. The pod was popular in many ancient cultures like the Egyptians. Fruits & Nuts

Carp include several species. Has been cultivated for thousands of years. It is native to Europe and Asia. Fish & Seafood

Carrot is a cultivated form of wild carrot that is native to Europe and southwest Asia. related to parsley. Vegetables

Cassia (Chinese cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon, bastard cinnamon) is also not true cinnamon but it is related.  It is native to South and Southeast Asian. the spice is the bark from the tree. Spices & Herbs

Cattle of the family bovinae is one of our most important and loved livestock animals. They have been domesticated for over 8000 years providing us with milk and dairy products. Today they are spread out all over the world, originally they all stem from a now-extinct wild species known as auroch, these huge animals lived in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. There are many breeds all around the world, specialized in producing milk, leather or meat. Livestock

Celery root (celeriac, celery with turnip root, knob celery) is also a type of celery grown for its origin. Native to Asia and Europe. Vegetables

Celery (also Chinese spinach) is cultivated from wild celery native to temperate regions in Asia and Europe. Vegetables

Celtuce (also stem lettuce, celery lettuce, Chinese lettuce, asparagus lettuce) was cultivated in China from lettuce, mostly stem and little leaves. Vegetables

Cempedak (also chempedak) is native to Southeast Asia. Related to jackfruit. Fruits & Nuts

Char is closely related to salmon and trout. Dwell in really cold freshwater. Native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Fish & Seafood

Chard (Eternal Spinach, Swiss Chard, Silver Beat, Spinach Beat, Crab Beat, Mangold, etc.) is a crop of edible leaves. A descendant of the wild sea beet native to parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Vegetables

Cheese is made by various methods of coagulating milk and therefore removes a liquid called whey, usually, rennet is added to this "yogurt" to make it stable. The cheddar would then be able to sit to let age making taste with the help of microbes and some of the time shape parasite.  There are hundreds of methods where cheese can be cooked, dried or flavored before consumed. The origin of cheese is uncertain, but to say several thousands of years ago somewhere in the Middle East, Europe or Northern Africa you won´t be wrong. Dairy Products

Cherry is a generic term for various species native to northern America, Europe and Asia. The original cherry is native to Europe. Fruits & Nuts

Chicken are direct descendants of wildfowl native to Southeast Asia, they have been bred by humans for at least 7000 years. Today it is the most important livestock fowl in the world. Foodwise they provide us with meat and eggs. Livestock

Chickpea (also garbanzo bean, Indian pea, Ceci bean, Bengal gram) is one of our oldest vegetables and has been domesticated for almost 10000 years. Its wild botanical ancestor is native to Turkey. Vegetables

Chinese cabbage (also Chinese chard, Chinese mustard, celery mustard, spoon cabbage, bok choy, pak choy) is native to Southeast Asia. Vegetables

Cinnamon (additionally Canela, cannelle) The genuine assortment, on the grounds that there are a few comparable, is local to Sri Lanka.  The spice is the actual bark of the tree. Spices & Herbs

Citron (also cedrat) is native to eastern India. Lemon is known as citron in many countries. Fruits & Nuts

Clementine is a variety of mandarin orange, it is believed to have its origins in either Algeria or China. Most of the time seedless. Fruits & Nuts

Cloudberry (also bakeapple) part of the mulberry family. Grows in colder temperate areas in the northern hemisphere. Many times used in jams. Fruits & Nuts

Clove is native to Indonesia. Are the dried flower buds of a tree. Used all over the world. Spices & Herbs

Coconut is found in tropical regions around the world. Has spread with the help of currents and migration. Fresh green coconut is popular for its liquid. The dried older coconuts provide the white pulp from which many products are made, among them coconut milk. Fruits & Nuts

Coffee (also coffea) is native to subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Collard greens were cultivated from wild cabbage native to the Mediterranean. Vegetables

Common Quail has been domesticated for hundreds of years. They provide eggs and meat. Native to Asia and Africa. Livestock

Common sole native to the Eastern North Atlantic until the Mediterranean. Very popular, meat is expensive. Fish & Seafood

Coriander Coriander is local to South Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia.  It is a plant whose leaves and fruits (seeds) are used. The leaves are also known as cilantro, coriander, and Chinese parsley. An integral part of many recipes around the world. Spices & Herbs

Corn salad (also Lewiston corn salad, lamb's lettuce, field salad, rapunzel) is a leafy green native to Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Vegetables

Cottage cheese is a loose "curd" that still holds quite a lot of whey. Often mild in flavor. It can be made with or with our rennet with different results. The origin and age are quite unknown, they may be combined with the making of ordinary cheese. Dairy Products

Cranberry is native to colder temperate areas in Asia, Europe, and North America. Mainly used to make juice and jam. Fruits & Nuts

Cubeb (also tailed pepper, Java pepper) is a strong tasting spice similar to the spice pepper. It was an important spice in Europe until the Middle Ages. Still common in Asia. It has its botanical origin in Indonesia. Spices & Herbs

Cucumber is a variety of different shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. The original cucumber is native to India. Has been cultivated for thousands of years. Gherkins can be sorted into this category. Vegetables

Cultured buttermilk you get from adding a lactic bacteria to milk provoking a fermentation process. It can be used in bread or icecream making. A related product is the Swedish "filmjölk". Origin is somewhere in Europe, Asia or Africa.Dairy Products

Cumin is our oldest spice and was cultivated in the Middle East. It is very common today and is used in cuisine all over the world, Sometimes confused with the similar caraway. Spices & Herbs

Curd is the solidified type of milk when it has coagulated with the assistance of corrosive or rennet.  Dairy Products

Curry leaves (also sweet neem leaves) are the leaves from the curry tree native to India. Has given name to the spice mix curry of which it is not always part. Spices & Herbs

Cuttlefish are related to squids and octopuses. Found in salt waters in East and South Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Fish & Seafood

Daikon (also mooli) is a large white radish. Cultivated first in East Asia. Vegetables

Damson (damson plum, Damascus plum) is a cultivar of plum first grown around Damascus several thousand years ago. Fruits & Nuts

Date comes from the datepalm. It is native to desert oases in southwestern Asia and North Africa. Has been cultivated for at least 6000 years. Fruits & Nuts

Deer have only recently started to be domesticated for meat production. Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Livestock

Dromedary also is known as the "Arabian camel" has got one lump of fat on its back. It is probably native to the Arabian Peninsula but is today found in North Africa, Australia and all over the Middle East. Provide meat and dairy products. Livestock

Drumstick (also moringa) is a vegetable fruit from a tree native to northwestern India. Quite popular in Asia. Vegetables

Duck just like the chicken, duck is believed to first have been domesticated wild ducks (called mallards) in Southeast Asia, this several thousands of years BC. In the Americas another breed was domesticated, the Muscovy, this was before Columbus. Duck provide meat and eggs. Livestock

Duku (also langsat) is native to Southeast Asia. Fruits & Nuts

Dulse (also dillisk, dilsk, red dulse, sea lettuce flakes, creathnach) is red algae native to oceans in the northern hemisphere where it is also harvested and eaten. Vegetables

Durian are several species native to Southeast Asia. The fruit is highly regarded and can cost a fair bit of money. The strong smell has made it forbidden to bring into the Singapurian subway. Fruits & Nuts

Durum wheat (also macaroni wheat) evolved by selective breeding from emmer wheat that occurred in the Middle East. Still culinary important in several cuisines. Grains & Cereals

Ear fungus (also black fungus, wood ear, cloud ear fungus, Judas´s ear fungus) are two species and named so since they resemble the shape of ears; they are so-called "jelly mushrooms". Native to East Asia. Mushrooms

Elephant foot yam (also stink lily, white spot giant arum) is a type of yam native to Southeast Asia. Vegetables

Elephant garlic is a plant firmly identified with the leek. It is cultivated from wild garlic that is native to southern Europe and western Asia. Spices & Herbs, Vegetables
Emmer wheat (also farro) is an early cultivar of wheat domesticated in the Near East about 10000 years ago. Got replaced by cultivars that gave a higher yield. Grains & Cereals  

Ensete  (also assets) are native to bananas in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa. It is a root vegetable with high per acre yield popular in parts of Africa. Vegetables

Fava bean (also broad bean, horse bean, field bean, bell bean, tic bean) is an important Old World bean, native to North Africa and Southwest Asia. Vegetables

Fennel flower seeds (also nutmeg flower, Roman coriander, black seed, black caraway, black onion seed, nigella) is harvested from the flower of a plant native to southwestern Asia. Quite common in some Indian cuisines. Spices & Herbs

Fennel seeds are collected from the fennel herb local to the Mediterranean.  in use for thousands of years. Ingredients in Asian and European kitchens. Spices & Herbs

Fenugreek is a plant local to Europe and Asia.  The leaves and the seeds are used. Fenugreek seeds are exceptionally basic in Indian cooking yet additionally are found in some European, African and other Asian kitchens. Spices & Herbs

Fig grow on fig trees, is native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia. There are several hundred species. Fruits & Nuts

Fingerroot  (additionally Chinese ginger) is local to China and Southeast Asia. It is a typical zest in different pieces of Asia.  Spices & Herbs

Florence fennel  (likewise finocchio) is an assortment of the fennel herb that has a swollen root.  Native to the coasts of the Mediterranean. Vegetables

Flounders are several species of flatfish native to the Northern Atlantic and the Pacific. Fish & Seafood.  See more