Food for thought

Plant of the Week: Fruits eaten with souvlaki from plant used for genito-urinary problems

Alexander McCowanNovember 14, 2019November 11, 2019

By Alexander McCowanNovember 14, 2019November 11, 20190303

Name: Sumach (Rhus aromatica) Otherwise known as: Sweet Sumach, Staghorn Sumach Habitat: A deciduous shrub member of the Anacardiaceae family growing to about 5m in...

Health

Plant of the week: Herb used since ancient times will attract cats

Alexander McCowanNovember 7, 2019November 4, 2019

By Alexander McCowanNovember 7, 2019November 4, 20190238

Name: Mountain Balm (Calamintha sylvatica) Otherwise known as: Calaminta, Mad Cat Habitat: An erect, perennial member of the Labiatea family, growing to about 70cm in...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant has range of uses from mascara to fighting IBS

Alexander McCowanOctober 31, 2019October 28, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 31, 2019October 28, 20190231

Name: Quince (Cydonia oblonga) Otherwise known as: Golden Apple Habitat: A deciduous tree member of the Rosaceae family, which can grow to 8m. It has...

Restaurant & Bar Review

Restaurant Review: Beer & Beer, Nicosia

Alexander McCowanOctober 25, 2019October 21, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 25, 2019October 21, 20190275

The title of this enterprise leads one to believe food doesn’t feature prominently in their endeavours; a bowl of nuts, perhaps a few crisps. And...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant thought to boost milk production now used for skin eruptions

Alexander McCowanOctober 24, 2019October 21, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 24, 2019October 21, 20190274

Name: Throatwort (Scrophularia nodosa) Otherwise known as: Figbalm, Rosenoble Habitat: A perennial herb member of the Scrophulariaceae family growing to about 1.5m in rich, moist,...

Health

Plant of the Week: Poisonous plant valued for its hard wood

Alexander McCowanOctober 17, 2019October 14, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 17, 2019October 14, 20190178

Name: Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) Otherwise known as: Frisia, False Acacia Habitat: A deciduous tree member of the Leguminosea family, growing up to 25m in...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant used by herbalists for IBS and aromatherapists for stress

Alexander McCowanOctober 10, 2019October 7, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 10, 2019October 7, 20190292

Name: Labdanum (Cistus ladanifer) Otherwise known as: Rock Rose, Cistus Creticus, Ladanum Habitat: An evergreen shrub member of the Cistaceae family growing up to 2.5m...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant with list of uses under scrutiny from pharmaceutical industry

Alexander McCowanOctober 3, 2019September 30, 2019

By Alexander McCowanOctober 3, 2019September 30, 20190191

Name: Lapacho (Tabebuia avellanedae) Otherwise known as: Pau d’arco Habitat: A deciduous tree member of the Bignoniaceae family native to South America and growing to...

Restaurant & Bar Review

Restaurant review: Smokey Dee’s, Nicosia

Alexander McCowanSeptember 27, 2019September 20, 2019

By Alexander McCowanSeptember 27, 2019September 20, 201901076

TV food programmes have always been popular but back in the infancy of British television, when the only channel was owned by the taxpayer, they...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant used by Druids to pacify a treatment for poisoning

Alexander McCowanSeptember 26, 2019September 20, 2019

By Alexander McCowanSeptember 26, 2019September 20, 20190311

Name: Black Dogwood (Rhamnus frangula) Otherwise known as: Frangula Bark, Alder Buckthorn Habitat: A deciduous shrub or small tree of the Rhamnaceae family, growing to...

Health

Plant of the week: Plant that gave Plantagenets name used for brooms

Alexander McCowanSeptember 19, 2019September 16, 2019

By Alexander McCowanSeptember 19, 2019September 16, 2019096

Name: Broom (Spartium scoparium) Also known as: Basam, Besum Habitat: A perennial shrub member of the Leguminosae family, growing to about 3m in dry, stony...

Health

Plant of the week: ‘Friend of the elderly’ was thought to cure plague

Alexander McCowanSeptember 12, 2019September 10, 2019

By Alexander McCowanSeptember 12, 2019September 10, 20190117

Name: Angelica: (Angelica archangelica) Otherwise known as: Angel’s Food Habitat: A biennial member of the Umbelliferae family growing up to 2m in river valleys and...

Health

Plant of the Week: Plant used for American Indian warpaint also useful against mosquitos

Alexander McCowanSeptember 5, 2019September 2, 2019

By Alexander McCowanSeptember 5, 2019September 2, 20190474

Name: Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) Otherwise known as: Pucoon, Indian Paint, Redroot Habitat: A creeping perennial member of the Papaveraceae, growing up to 60cm in woodlands...

Restaurant & Bar Review

Restaurant Review: Tocayo, Nicosia

Alexander McCowanAugust 30, 2019August 27, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 30, 2019August 27, 201902827

A conundrum: according to the Oxford Shorter, among other things, a puzzling question. What else can we call the current position? We seek a restaurant...

Health

Plant of the week: An impressive little berry

Alexander McCowanAugust 29, 2019August 26, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 29, 2019August 26, 20190425

Name: Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) Otherwise known as: Quinsy Berries Habitat: A deciduous shrub of the Grossulariaceae family, growing to about 2m in moist hedgerows in...

Health

Plant of the week: Chinese believe plant heightens awareness

Alexander McCowanAugust 22, 2019August 19, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 22, 2019August 19, 20190281

Name: Star Anise (Illicium verum) Otherwise known as: Chinese Anise Habitat: An evergreen tree member of the Illiciaceae family growing to about 17metres with shiny...

Health

Plant of the week: Poisonous plant used to protect against lightening

Alexander McCowanAugust 16, 2019August 12, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 16, 2019August 12, 20190349

Name: White Bryony (Bryonia alba) Otherwise known as: English Mandrake, Navet du Diable Habitat: A perennial climbing herb of the Cucurbitaceae family. It grows to...

Health

Plant of the week: Poisonous plant used by the ancients to induce sleep

Alexander McCowanAugust 8, 2019August 5, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 8, 2019August 5, 20190453

Name: Sedum (Sedum acre) Otherwise known as: Wall Pepper, Stonecrop Habitat: A perennial member of the Crassulaceae family growing to no more than 12cm in...

Restaurant & Bar Review

Restaurant review: Yumi, Nicosia

Alexander McCowanAugust 2, 2019July 29, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 2, 2019July 29, 20190510

Beside the dark tower that glowers over Spyrou Kyprianou Avenue nestles an enterprise so successful that it is full by 8.30 on a Tuesday night....

Health

Plant of the week: Popular house plant used to treat arthritis in Mexico

Alexander McCowanAugust 1, 2019July 29, 2019

By Alexander McCowanAugust 1, 2019July 29, 20190504

Name: Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) Otherwise known as: Swiss Cheese Plant, Mexican Breadfruit Habitat: A perennial vine member of the Araceae family growing up to 20m...