Kew's Global Kitchen Cookbook

Not long ago, a humble orange was an exotic treat, and foods like saffron rice or green tea were nearly unheard of—much less kitchen staples. Now, a stroll through the supermarket reveals an international bounty, with an unbelievable variety of food available any time of the year. Kew’s Global Kitchen Cookbook celebrates this harvest and encourages cooks and readers to tour the world through plants, spices, and recipes all from the comfort of their kitchen.

This delectable cookbook centers on plants and spices from six continents. Recipes are gathered by region, and they range from healthy salads (sesame prawn and sour green mango salad) to hearty main dishes (grilled quail in rose-petal sauce) and sumptuous desserts (blueberry and lavender ice cream).  Accessible to novice cooks as well as experts, the recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, with ingredients that are readily available in stores or farmer’s markets. A fold-out conversion table is included for reference and an appendix of herbs details their flavor and use.

This unique cookbook also touches on historical, botanical, and economic themes. Each featured plant comes to life through beautiful botanic illustrations from Kew’s archives, and tales of travel and adventure reveal the plant’s role in culinary history. We learn how Europe’s fortunes turned on peppercorn and that a Turkish ambassador once made the most sought-after coffee in town. With a dash of history, a splash of travel, and a healthy serving of fool-proof recipes, Kew’s Global Kitchen Cookbook is the perfect gift for anyone who loves a good story served up with great food.