Vocabulary

• come from: To have as your native country or city
• look at: To use your eyes to focus on something
• shelf life: The length of time for which an item remains usable, fit for consumption, or saleable.
• rather than: More exactly; more correctly
• over time: Gradually; as time passes.
• beneath the surface: In or under the outer layer of something, often physically below.
• western countries: Countries generally located in Europe and North America, characterized by democratic governments and capitalist economies.
• no matter: Regardless of; it does not matter.
• subtle: Delicate or slight so it is difficult to perceive
• ancient: Very old; having lived a very long time ago
• cultivate: To grow plants, crops etc.
• artificial: Dishonest, to seem fake, not sincere
• staple: Main food of a particular community
• split: No longer married or in a relationship
• precious: Having a youthful, cute, and pleasant appearance
• claim: To say that something is true, often without proof.
• category: Groups of things that are similar in some way
• exotic: Being very different or unusual
• crack: Attempt to achieve a goal or objective
• ordinary: Normal or usual
• tiny: Very, very small
• vibrant: Having a lot of energy and being very active
• signature: Something that represents a person's work or style
• mature: Behaving like an adult
• value: Importance you attach to something
• flavor: Quality giving something a particular character
• introduce: To open an essay to set the scene
• breed: Kind of / sort of
• savory: (Of taste) salty or spicy rather than sweet
• fortune: What might happen to you in the future
• inconsistent: Not tying together logically or with the facts
• trade: A specific industry, e.g. shoe making
• enhance: To improve; make bigger or better
• produce: Fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables
• tuck: To put something into a small or safe place
• luxury: Something expensive bought for pleasure
• resemble: To be similar to in looks or manner
• bear: To accept (responsibilities or duties)
• desert: To leave a place for ever; abandon
• reserve: To arrange for a room or table be kept for you
• shelf: Flat, narrow surface on an area of rock or sand
• maturity: Time at which an investment is ready to be paid
• sign: Indication that something exists or will happen
• tune: To make adjustments to equipment to make it better
• simple: Not hard to understand or do; not complex
• mediterranean: Describing the sea between Italy and Africa
• patience: Ability to wait without being annoyed
• snack: Small amount of food eaten between meals
• middle: Place that is halfway between two things
• natural: Being as one would expect; being usual or normal
• land: Region or country
• indulgent: Allowing children, etc. more pleasure than usual
• carry: To have a child, be pregnant
• life: All the living things e.g. animals, plants, humans
• time: Speed at which music is played; tempo
• light: To cause something to burn; put a burning match to
• long: Person's name
• beige: A pale brown color
• close: Almost; near
• pollination: Putting pollen on a plant so it makes seeds
• botanical: Concerning plants or botany
• homeland: Country where you were born
• pistachio: Greenish nuts used in cakes, ice cream etc.
• baklava: Middle Eastern nut and honey cake with thin pastry