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...
The founder of the Mughal dynasty, Zahirud-din Mohammed Babur ‘the Tiger’, had been a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, the mighty Emperors of Central Asia. Descending from the Fergana Valley and later from the snow-capped mountains at Kabul, in 1525 Babur crossed the Indus and swept into Punjab, the...
For the ancient civilisations of Mesoamerica, chocolate or rather Cacao was a prized beverage and achieved a sacred status. Believing that the Gods had discovered the Cacao tree high up in the mountains and had thus gifted it to them following their creation, the ancient Maya and Aztec paid a...
The hammam has been the site of a purifying and beautifying ritual spanning thousands of years. As a timeless tradition, it uses the most basic of nature’s gifts – water, heat and a sponge, and is a perfect solution to counter some of the more stressful moments from modern life. There...
Packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, herbal teas are a great way to detox for spring. Here are our five favorite natural, detoxifying teas from around the world. See which one of these herbal brews suits you the most! Japan: Macha Tea A popular beverage in Japan, Matcha tea is now becoming...