03/11/2025
🎉 National Chemistry Week 2025 – “The Hidden Life of Spices” 🔬🌶️
How cool is this year’s theme?!
I had the pleasure of joining Fresno State’s Chemistry Department at 3 Oaks Vineyard in Clovis for their National Chemistry Week celebration — and they used my spices in several of their interactive stations and games! 🙌
Here are a few of the fascinating demos and activities from the event:
🧪 Paprika’s Hidden Side:
Paprika is a hydrophobic spice — it doesn’t mix well with water, but it loves fat! When mixed with water, you get a cloudy orange color, but with oil, it turns a beautiful red and translucent. That’s why in cooking, you want to add paprika (and other fat-soluble spices) while sautéing veggies — to let the flavors bloom before adding broth.
👁️ Guess That Spice:
Participants identified spices by touch through a hidden cloth — tougher than it sounds!
✨ Turmeric Science:
Exploring turmeric’s fluorescence, color chemistry, and real health properties (yes, it’s not just a myth).
👃 Blind Sniff Test:
A mix of cumin, clove, and cinnamon — cinnamon was the easiest, but our Wild Black Cumin stumped a few noses.
🍷 The Chemistry of Mulled Wine:
Fittingly hosted at a vineyard, this station explored the science behind spiced wine.
🧬 Match That Molecule:
Attendees paired spices with their major organic compounds — like Eugenol in cloves, which actually helps soothe toothaches!
🔥 Hot or Not?:
A Scoville scale challenge where guests found their heat tolerance — from mild to mouth-on-fire!
Huge thank-you to Fresno State’s Chemistry Department for inviting me out and for such an inspiring theme. It’s amazing to see how science connects to what we do every day in the kitchen. 👨🔬🌶️
