Covering the origins, history and botany of raw ingredients and their culinary uses, this authoritative reference work begins with general chapters on the growing, harvesting and trading of foods. The main part of the Encyclopedia is an illustrated directory of edible plants describing almost 500 plant species in sections on fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, herbs and spices, plants used in beverages, and sugars and oils. Finally, the reference section provides nutritional tables, a glossary and index.