Here comes trouble! Just teasing!
This tantalizing list will tickle your fancy and keep you on your toes! It’s a tall order, but we here are, tallying the best foods that start with T.
Are you ready to take this list to task and make it taste like the best T foods in the world?
True dat!
At the top of my list are tomatoes, of course.
Nothing ever beats this superfood when it comes to popularity. And its juicy fame is only to be expected as it is practically used in all cuisine around the world.
A tomato refers to a flowering plant of the nightshade family, which is then cultivated extensively for its edible fruits.
Its fruits are eaten raw in salads, served as a cooked vegetable, and pickled.
Here’s one of my favorites – the marinated tomatoes recipe.
2. Tahini
Tahini is a savory condiment that can be found across the globe. Its origins can be traced back to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
Can you imagine falafel without a drizzle of tahini, or a gyro served without a tahini sauce? Culinary travesty!
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds.
It can also be mixed with ingredients such as garlic and olive oil, both of which make savory sauces.
3. Tapioca
This noted thickening agent in both sweet and savory dishes is gluten-free. This is all largely because of its potent gelling power and neutral flavor.
Easily one of the most popular uses of tapioca is in bubble or boba tea. It is also used as a pudding.
4. Tamarind
Native to Asia and Africa, the tamarind tree produces pods of fruit that taste sweet and sour when they get ripe. They’re even more sour when unripe or dried.
Currently, India and Thailand are two of the top exporters of tamarind.
In terms of cooking, it’s a staple ingredient in Africa and the Middle East, apart from Asia, of course. It is also popular in Mexican candy.
5. Tarragon
Despite its origins as a natural medicine, tarragon is now emerging with a new reputation – right in the kitchen!
Tarragon is an herb that grows on tall, slender stems that feature glossy leaves, with edible yellow, green, or white flowers. It’s most commonly used to dress up salads; it can also be used in fish sauces.
6. Tangerine
Not to be confused with oranges, tangerines are citrus fruits that are smaller and less sweet than the former.
Tangerines are closely related to mandarins instead, considered as the same species.
Are you in the mood for a tangerine drizzle cake? I found this one staring at me and it looked divine and different.
7. Tea
One of the most consumed beverages in the world, tea is prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over dried or fresh leaves.
There are many types of tea. The most popular ones are the green variety, Darjeeling (a black tea), and herbal teas such as steeped rosehip, chamomile, and rooibos.
8. Tempura
You thought tempura are only for shrimps?
Tempura refers to a variety of foods that are battered and fried lightly. The most common forms of tempura feature seafood and vegetables.
Now, here’s a shocker: Although tempura is associated to Japanese cuisine, the earliest form of tempura was pioneered by some folks in Portugal, back in the 1600s.
9. Teriyaki
Another food associated with Japan is teriyaki. This Japanese dish consists of fish and meat that is marinated in soy sauce and then grilled.
Teriyaki is also a mixture of soy sauce, sake, ginger, and some flavorings, most of which are used in Japanese cooking as a glaze or marinade.
10. Thyme
Now, it’s “thyme” to listen up!
Beloved by many cooks and chefs around the world, thyme is a perennial herb used from southern Europe to Central America and the Mediterranean.
It is also used in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Thyme, which is both available in fresh and dried forms, is noted for its (herbaceous, earthy flavor), along with its small and pale green leaves.
As thyme holds up well to long cooking, it’s typically used in heavy dishes such as stews and pasta sauces.
11. Tiramisu
The dessert that took the world by storm (well, at least in the 80s!), is a slice of cake or cup layered with sponge cake, ladyfingers, and mascarpone.
It’s also layered with espresso and embellished with cocoa powder.
As Italian as it sounds, tiramisu doesn’t fall in the OG league of Italian desserts such as the cannoli or sfogliatelle.
If anything, there’s something about this dessert that’s enduring.
12. Tofu
All right, give me some tofu love!
Originating in China, tofu is a food made of condensed soy pressed into solid white blocks. This process is similar to cheesemaking.
Today, tofu’s popularity has somewhat skyrocketed to fame as plant-based eating becomes more mainstream.
We put together this comprehensive guide about tofu for further reading!
13. Torte
Cake or torte, now that’s a question some dessert enthusiasts would drool over.
But as I’m uncovering T foods in the process, let’s take a look at how the latter is winning!
A torte is made of eggs, with little or no flour, along with groundnut mixture and at times, bread crumbs to lock its texture to perfection.
Torte is typically laden with mousses, jams, fruits, and whipped cream!
14. Trifle
Trifle is a cold dessert of sponge cake and fruit covered with layers of custard, cream, and jelly.
The traditional version of trifle originated in England in the 18th century.
This consisted of three or four layers, which included fruits, custard, and an alcohol-soaked sponge cake.
15. Truffle
Notorious for its pricey offerings, raw truffles come in a few different varieties.
But for the sake of this discussion, I’m meaning to reveal this sought-after mushroom, an elusive fungi that is much harder to come by than the standard shiitake or portobello.
Truffles are grown in calcareous soils near the roots of broadleaved trees like oak or hazelnut.
Now as for their fancy, bite-sized chocolatey counterpart, that’s reserved for another discussion!
16. Turkey
Now suddenly I’m thinking about Thanksgiving!
Could I be any more predictable than this? Well, not if you factor in turkeys in the equation!
Turkey is a large bird classed in the family Phasianidae in the taxonomic order Galliformes.
Now, I won’t bore you with the details. Rather, I’m here to tell you that turkeys are loved by the gastronomic world.
For instance, here are the many recipes highlighting turkey – from a roasted one to a healthy meatloaf version.
If you’ve got leftover turkey, this is a good resource: Reheat Smoked Turkey in Three Easy Ways.
17. Turmeric
A plant in the ginger family, turmeric is known for its vivid, fragrant, and bitter spice tastes and flavorings.
Before exploding in the shelves around the world, turmeric has been widely used in Indian and Chinese markets as a traditional medicine.
18. Turnip
If you’re dying to show off your creativity to your guests at a table, I recommend you cook with turnips. Glazed turnips, anyone?
Heartier than a radish and milder than a beet, a turnip is a root vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, which includes cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
It’s round in shape and features a purple top in which the root is exposed to sunlight during its final stages of growth.
The bottom line
Triple-checked and tidy, this list of T food words may just be what you need to trim your holiday table!
Or tackle a timely taste-testing with twins Tim and Trina and plan the best birthday party ever with all these foods and recipes that begin with T!!
Can you think of any more foods that start with the letter T? Tell us!
18 Foods That Start With T
Here are 18 of the world’s most searched foods that start with T!
Ingredients
- Tomatoes
- Tahini
- Tapioca
- Tamarind
- Tarragon
- Tangerine
- Tea
- Tempura
- Teriyaki
- Thyme
- Tiramisu
- Tofu
- Torte
- Trifle
- Truffle
- Turkey
- Turmeric
- Turnip
Instructions
- Choose two to three entries that you’ve already cooked or eaten.
- Tell us your experience!