45 food and drink trivia questions and answers
These questions travel from familiar ingredients and world dishes into baking, fermentation, preservation, kitchen measurements, cooking vocabulary, beverages, and food chemistry.
Updated
Questions 1–20
What fruit is dried to make a raisin?
easy
Dried grape
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raisin?oldid=1350844134
Which vegetable is traditionally used to make sauerkraut?
easy
Cabbage
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauerkraut?oldid=1365304663
What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
easy
Avocado
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guacamole?oldid=1364820069#Composition_and_nutrients
Which drink is made by infusing dried leaves of Camellia sinensis?
medium
Tea
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea?oldid=1364666845
What dairy product is churned to make butter?
medium
Cream
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter?oldid=1362175857
Which country is the origin of pizza in its modern form?
easy
Italy
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza?oldid=1363440412#History
What type of pastry surrounds a traditional apple pie?
medium
Shortcrust pastry
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_pie?oldid=1365921104#England
What color are ripe bananas usually?
easy
Yellow
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana?oldid=1362881848#Ripening
Where do peanut fruits develop?
medium
Underground
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut?oldid=1361472353#Botanical_description
What is the first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning?
easy
Breakfast
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast?oldid=1359991151
What grain is the usual base of risotto?
easy
Rice
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risotto?oldid=1362720444#Rice_varieties
Which spice has a golden yellow color due to curcumin?
medium
Turmeric
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric?oldid=1363742127#Phytochemistry
What food do bees make from nectar?
easy
Honey
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey?oldid=1365511306#By_honey_bees
Which pasta name translates from Italian as little tongues?
hard
Linguine
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguine?oldid=1351415438#Etymology
What is tofu primarily made from?
easy
Soybeans
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu?oldid=1365068098#Elsewhere
By the 1800s, what drink had changed from an elite indulgence to one for the masses?
hard
Coffee
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coffee?oldid=1364415380#Production
What are the two main ingredients in a basic meringue?
medium
Egg whites and sugar
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meringue?oldid=1347156286
Which nut is used to make marzipan?
medium
Almond meal
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzipan?oldid=1365875925
Which microorganisms does a sourdough starter contain?
medium
Wild yeast and lactobacilli
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sourdough?oldid=1363690678#Starter
Which French cooking term means everything in its place?
hard
Mise en place
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mise_en_place?oldid=1354582677
Questions 21–40
What kind of food is paneer?
medium
A fresh acid-set cheese
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paneer?oldid=1362900719
How many teaspoons are in one tablespoon in the United States?
medium
Three
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablespoon?oldid=1363722789#Traditional_definitions
Chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic combine to make which dish?
easy
Hummus
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummus?oldid=1359515680
Which part of a cinnamon tree becomes the spice?
medium
The inner bark
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinnamon?oldid=1362542331
Why does bread dough expand while it proves?
medium
Carbon dioxide gas
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proofing_(baking_technique)?oldid=1341505165#Dough_processes
What Japanese food word means “pierced body”?
hard
Sashimi
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashimi?oldid=1363450866#Origin
Which bean is used in traditional refried beans?
hard
Pinto beans
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refried_beans?oldid=1356790857#Ingredients_and_preparation
Which fruit ingredients are boiled with sugar and water to make marmalade?
medium
The juice and peel of citrus fruits
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmalade?oldid=1363016539
Which cheese is traditionally used in a Greek salad?
easy
Feta
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_salad?oldid=1365569858
How should properly cooked al dente pasta feel when bitten?
easy
Firm to the bite
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_dente?oldid=1353394421
Which fermented drink is made from sweetened tea and a SCOBY?
medium
Kombucha
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kombucha?oldid=1363906186
What is polenta made from?
medium
Boiled cornmeal
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polenta?oldid=1362858594
Which gas is dissolved in carbonated water?
easy
Carbon dioxide gas
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonated_water?oldid=1364334300
What cooking process browns sugar and creates new flavors?
medium
Caramelization
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caramelization?oldid=1357122258
Which fruit supplies the oil in extra-virgin oil?
easy
Olives
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil?oldid=1365854242
How does ceviche change raw fish without heat?
hard
Citric acid
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceviche?oldid=1364127418#Preparation_and_variants
Tempeh is made by growing an edible fungus on what food?
hard
Soybeans
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempeh?oldid=1360674449#Production
Which five tastes are generally recognized by modern science?
medium
Salt, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste?oldid=1365818554#Functional_structure
Name the flaky pastry used for baklava.
medium
Filo pastry
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baklava?oldid=1365053217
What milk sugar can cause digestive trouble for people with an intolerance?
easy
Lactose
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance?oldid=1364590845#Terminology
Questions 41–45
What does a Mexican mole sauce generally contain?
hard
Fruits, nuts, chili peppers, and spices
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_(sauce)?oldid=1361623825
What creates the holes in Swiss-type cheeses such as Emmental?
hard
Dust from hay
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss-type_cheeses?oldid=1357036117#Cheesemaking
What preservation process adds salt to draw moisture out of food?
medium
Curing
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curing_(food_preservation)?oldid=1362544330
What does the Bloom test measure in commercial gelatin?
hard
Gel strength
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin?oldid=1363997113#Properties
Which coffee-brewing device uses a plunger and metal mesh filter?
medium
French press
Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_press?oldid=1364555358#Design_history
How to play
Read culinary terms at a steady pace and offer one clean repeat for words borrowed from another language. Accept a regional pronunciation when the intended ingredient, dish, or technique is unambiguous.
Plan the round and team scores
8 turns × 60 seconds = 8 minutes of play, plus instructions and breaks.
60
These are adjustable house rules. Pause whenever the group needs more time.
Team 1: 0
Team 2: 0