top of page


Black Tea (Camellia sinensis): Harvest to Cup
Black tea is made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. As it undergoes full oxidation, it takes on a dark hue and a strong...
Sylvia Rose
Feb 174 min read
19 views


Esters & Phenols in Brewing, Perfumes, Food Making
Esters and phenols are compounds creating flavors, colors and aromas for sensory experience. Artisans in brewing, perfumery or food must...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 225 min read
28 views


Lactase: Nutrition & the Milk Sugar Enzyme
Lactase is an enzyme important to breaking down lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products, into digestible elements. Lactase is...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 155 min read
17 views


Whey & Whey Products: Health & Science
Whey is a byproduct of cheese making. It comes with nutritional benefits and flavorful culinary options. Explore the production process...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 105 min read
34 views


Lactic Acid: Natural Process & Human Health
Lactic acid (C3H6O3) is an organic acid familiar to humans in food and health. Lactic acid is ten times more acidic than the acetic acid...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 93 min read
11 views


Lactobacillus: Nature of Lactic Acid Bacteria
Lactobacillus is a genus of bacteria significant in food fermentation and human health. Members of the beneficial lactic acid bacteria...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 93 min read
42 views


Green Coffee: Consumer Facts & Information
Green coffee is unroasted coffee. The green seeds or "beans" of the coffee cherry are covered in a whitish mucilage, tucked inside the...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 77 min read
11 views


Flavors of Coffee: From Harvest to Homestead
Coffee lovers welcome the smooth, rich aroma of the morning brew. The journey from coffee tree to flavorful cuppa Joe is a captivating...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 68 min read
31 views


Cherish the Chocolate: Sweet Fermentation
Chocolate is one of the world's most beloved indulgences. The journey from cacao bean to chocolate bar is a series of artful processes,...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 55 min read
43 views


Isolate Yeast & LAB Strains for Artisan Flavors
Yeast strains and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in artisan baking and beverage production can affect the flavor profile of the product, like...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 36 min read
13 views


Yeast: Process from Culture to Consumer
Yeast is a cultured fungus with many hidden talents. A single-celled organism, it transforms simple ingredients into delicious foods and...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 16 min read
15 views


Feudalism & the German Peasants' War
Feudalism is a structured system of land ownership and governance in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It includes a...
Sylvia Rose
Jan 19 min read
12 views


Vulcano: Child Miners, Gods & Extremophiles
Vulcano is part of the Aeolian Island archipelago of Italy. Named for Vulcan, Roman god of fire and metalworking, Vulcano is a unique...
Sylvia Rose
Dec 24, 20245 min read
14 views


Yeast & Mold: Ancient Fungi, Modern World
Yeast and mold are types of fungi, adept at the decomposition of organic matter. They share some similarities but each has a unique...
Sylvia Rose
Dec 22, 20248 min read
17 views


Brownian Motion: Physics & Phenomena
Brownian motion vividly illustrates the appearance of chaos at a microscopic level. This phenomenon, first observed by botanist Robert...
Sylvia Rose
Dec 11, 20245 min read
8 views


Natural Glass Gemstones: Cataclysmic Fusion
Natural glass gemstones are caused by extraordinary geological events, such as intense heat and cataclysmic impacts. Natural glass...
Sylvia Rose
Dec 3, 20248 min read
21 views


Nickel (Ni): Metallurgy Facts & Folklore
Nickel (Ni), a silvery-white metal with a lustrous sheen, is a transition element essential to industry and commerce, and known in...
Sylvia Rose
Nov 29, 20246 min read
29 views


Raising Rotifers for Biology, Microscopy & Baby Fish Food
Rotifers are fascinating microorganisms, crucial to aquatic ecosystems. Enthusiasts and researchers can raise rotifers at home for...
Sylvia Rose
Nov 16, 20245 min read
13 views


Biometallurgy: Microbes Mining Metals
Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is only one of the amazing bacteria used in biometallurgy. In an age of environmental concerns,...
Sylvia Rose
Nov 12, 20245 min read
36 views


Lye (NaOH): Caustic Soda for Soap & Glass
Lye or sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a vital part of human history. Also called caustic soda, lye is a white odorless solid. A strong...
Sylvia Rose
Nov 5, 20244 min read
7 views
bottom of page