The Bitter Truth

Question: Which of these countries is not a major producer of onions?

Answer: Native to southwestern Asia, onions are produced in large quantities by China, India, the United States, Japan, Turkey, and Spain.

Question: Which of these is not in the allium family?

Answer: Rutabagas are a root crop related to the turnip.

Question: Which of these is not related to the onion?

Answer: The potato is a tuber. The common onion belongs to the lily family Liliaceae. Plants related to the onion include shallots, chives, leeks, and garlic.

Question: From what language does the word "vinegar" come?

Answer: The word vinegar comes from the French words for sour wine. Vinegar that is made from grapes is called wine vinegar.

Question: Garlic is a:

Answer: Garlic is a bulb. It grows underground.

Question: What causes us to cry when cutting onions?

Answer: Onions contain quantities of sulfuric acid. Many people produce tears when they cut onions.

Question: What is the active ingredient in vinegar?

Answer: The active ingredient in vinegar is acetic acid. It is what gives vinegar its sour taste.