Varieties of Earth Blog
Earth’s Delicacies: A map of the most sought-after clays – Visual guide to where the most prized clays are found
Earth’s Delicacies: A map of the most sought-after clays – Visual guide to where the most prized clays are found
Some people collect rare wines. Others hunt for exotic spices. And then there are those of us who get a thrill from finding the perfect piece of earth to crunch.... Read more...
Around the World in 80 Crunches: Global Clay Traditions You’ve Never Heard Of – A cultural tour of edible earth practices worldwide
Around the World in 80 Crunches: Global Clay Traditions You’ve Never Heard Of – A cultural tour of edible earth practices worldwide
Forget tea leaves or coffee beans, if you want a truly global taste tour, you need to look underground. Across the world, people have been nibbling, chewing, and savouring clay... Read more...
Why your clay or chalk might smell like incense (or soap or plastic) — and what to do about it
So you’ve unwrapped your newest batch of crunchy chalk, raw clay chunks or smoky roasted treats… only to notice something a bit unexpected. A whiff of sandalwood, maybe? A floral smokiness? Or worse — a faint plasticky or soapy smell? Before you panic and think your order’s gone off, let’s pause. There’s a perfectly good explanation — and a few easy fixes. Let’s get into the hows, the whys, and the very human traditions that might be tagging along with your tasty stash. The sacred smell of incense — and... Read more...
What minerals make clay crunch?: And how they affect flavour, colour, and your cravings
What minerals make clay crunch?: And how they affect flavour, colour, and your cravings
Curious what makes edible clay so satisfyingly crunchy? It’s all about the minerals like quartz, kaolinite, and illite that shape the texture and bite. Discover the science behind the crunch... Read more...
Fired Earth & Living Culture: A Brief History of Indian Terracotta Treasures (and How We Crunch Them Today)
Fired Earth & Living Culture: A Brief History of Indian Terracotta Treasures (and How We Crunch Them Today)
From roadside chai kulhars to piggy bank gullaks, India’s terracotta traditions run deep — and for the geophagy community, they offer more than just nostalgia. These hand-shaped, sun-fired vessels carry... Read more...
Mood, Texture, Crave: What Your Crunch Says About You
Mood, Texture, Crave: What Your Crunch Says About You
A tongue-in-cheek personality quiz for all my crunch-loving weirdos 🧡 Let’s be honest — the type of crunch you crave says a lot about you. You think you're just picking... Read more...
Indian Red vs Brown Terracotta: A Crunch Connoisseur’s Guide
Indian Red vs Brown Terracotta: A Crunch Connoisseur’s Guide
For lovers of natural earth products, few pleasures match the satisfying crunch and unique flavour profiles of Indian terracotta. But not all terracotta is the same. Two varieties in particular—Indian... Read more...