Many of you might be familiar with coconut oil; however, this might not be the case with virgin coconut oil. There are notable differences between the two, namely in their source, method of extraction and subsequent benefits. Virgin coconut oil is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world in comparison to ordinary...
Cleansing soaps, as we know them today, date back to ancient Babylon (2800 B.C.E.), whose citizens were the first to master the art of soap making, combining animal and vegetable fats with ash. The ancient Mesopotamians, Egyptians, as well as Greeks and Romans followed this trend, and all had produced soap...
Riding astride on magnificent camels through the harsh Saharan desert, the Tuareg are masters of the vast realm, which has earned them a near-mythic reputation. They guard their secrets of survival jealously. As nomadic herders, they navigate through the desert dunes that rise and fall, by the colour, texture and taste...
As an ivory coloured and smoky scented natural fat extracted from the nuts of the karite tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), Shea butter has been lauded for its many virtues. Its history as a precious and luxuriant West African commodity traces back to as early as Cleopatra’s Egypt, with records of caravans...
The toothbrush might be a recent phenomenon in Europe however its ancient counterpart, the chewing stick, has been used for thousands of years by countless civilisations including the Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It was however the Babylonians who were its earliest users, with records dating back to 3500 B.C.E. Derived...
During the hot summer days, some aromatic plants hold the capacity to transmute heat and sun into something that cools, calms and perfumes. Known as oil of tranquility or 'woman's oil', vetiver is one of those pleasant smelling grass that has powerful cosmetic, therapeutic and health value. It has been appreciated for...
Perhaps one of the least known treasures from the Horn of Africa is etan, both a tree and what has been described as a god-like resin. Ancient civilisations crazed over etan, and used it profusely for a number of purposes, particularly in cosmetic, healing and spiritual rituals. During the ancient era,...
Many of you might know purslane (Portulaca oleracea) as an invasive weed, but this wild-growing succulent plant is completely edible and delicious too! Low in calories and fat, it can serve as a great alternative or addition to lettuce; as its leaves and stems are crispy and chewy with a...
The Scythians were a vast network of ancient Central Asian nomads, who roamed freely across the boundless Eurasian plains from the ninth century B.C.E. up until the fourth century C.E. They were masters of horse-born mobility and fearsome warriors. Scythian women, like their men, trained from a young age and...
In the thirteenth century, Central Asia’s Turkic-Mongolian nomadic tribes united under the forceful and charismatic leadership of Genghis Khan, who ruled from the Carpathian Mountains to the Sea of Japan, the largest area ever to be dominated by a single dynasty. Whilst many remember the Mongols as "barbarians" or as...