Quiz of the Day
World Food Day — Cuisines of the World
Friday, 16 October 2026
Anchored to World Food Day (Oct 16), covering national dishes, ingredients, cooking, and culinary traditions.
1. World Food Day is observed around the world on which date each year?
- September 21
- October 16
- November 1
- October 24
World Food Day is held on October 16 to mark the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945. It is observed in more than 150 countries and aims to raise awareness about hunger and the need for healthy diets for all. The day highlights food security and sustainable agriculture.
2. Sushi, made with vinegared rice and often raw fish, is a traditional dish from which country?
- China
- Thailand
- Japan
- South Korea
Modern sushi developed in Japan, though its ancestor was a method of preserving fish in fermented rice that spread from Southeast Asia. The popular hand-pressed 'nigiri' style emerged in Edo (now Tokyo) in the early 19th century as a fast street food. The word 'sushi' actually refers to the seasoned rice, not the fish.
3. The pizza Margherita, topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil, originated in which country?
- France
- Italy
- Greece
- Spain
Pizza in its modern form was popularized in Naples, Italy. The Margherita is said to have been named after Queen Margherita of Savoy, its red, white, and green toppings echoing the Italian flag. Neapolitan pizza was granted UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status for the art of the 'pizzaiuolo' in 2017.
4. Paella, a saffron-tinted rice dish, is most closely associated with which country?
- Spain
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Portugal
Paella originated in the Valencia region of Spain, where it was traditionally cooked outdoors over an open fire in a wide, shallow pan. The word 'paella' actually refers to the pan itself, from the Latin 'patella' meaning a small dish. The original Valencian version featured rabbit, chicken, and beans rather than seafood.
5. Which legume is the main ingredient in traditional hummus?
- Chickpeas
- Kidney beans
- Lentils
- Black beans
Hummus is made by blending cooked chickpeas with tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, and garlic. It is a staple across the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, and the Arabic word 'hummus' simply means chickpeas. Chickpeas are one of the oldest cultivated legumes, with evidence of their use dating back thousands of years.
6. Tacos, tortillas folded around fillings, are a staple of which country's cuisine?
- Mexico
- Peru
- Brazil
- Argentina
Tacos are central to Mexican cuisine, built on the corn tortilla, which has been a dietary foundation in the region for millennia. Traditional Mexican cuisine was inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010. Corn, beans, and chili peppers form the backbone of many Mexican dishes.
7. Which spice, harvested from the stigmas of a crocus flower, is the world's most expensive by weight?
- Saffron
- Cardamom
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
Saffron comes from the dried stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower, and each flower produces only three tiny threads. It takes roughly 150,000 flowers and a great deal of hand labor to produce a single kilogram, which is why it commands such high prices. Iran produces the vast majority of the world's saffron.
8. Kimchi, a spicy fermented dish typically made from napa cabbage, is a national dish of which country?
- Vietnam
- China
- Japan
- South Korea
Kimchi is a cornerstone of Korean cuisine, made by salting and fermenting vegetables with seasonings such as chili, garlic, and ginger. The communal tradition of making kimchi, known as 'kimjang,' was added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list in 2013. Households traditionally prepare large batches in late autumn to last through winter.
9. Which country is the world's largest producer of coffee?
- Colombia
- Ethiopia
- Brazil
- Vietnam
Brazil has been the world's largest coffee producer for well over a century, growing both arabica and robusta beans. Its vast plantations are concentrated in states like Minas Gerais and São Paulo. Coffee itself is believed to have originated in the highlands of Ethiopia before spreading across the globe.
10. Pho, an aromatic noodle soup made with broth and rice noodles, comes from which country?
- Vietnam
- Malaysia
- Thailand
- Cambodia
Pho is a beloved Vietnamese noodle soup, traditionally served with a fragrant broth simmered for hours with spices like star anise and cinnamon. It emerged in northern Vietnam in the early 20th century and is commonly eaten for breakfast. Fresh herbs, lime, and chili are added at the table to customize each bowl.
11. Feta, a brined white cheese traditionally made from sheep's milk, is a protected product of which country?
- Greece
- Bulgaria
- Turkey
- Italy
Feta has Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status in the European Union, meaning only cheese made in designated regions of Greece using traditional methods can be called feta. It is made mainly from sheep's milk, sometimes with a small proportion of goat's milk. Feta is a key ingredient in Greek salad and many other Mediterranean dishes.
12. Which French cooking technique involves slowly cooking food submerged in fat, famously used to prepare duck?
- Braising
- Confit
- Poaching
- Sous vide
Confit is a traditional method in which meat, most famously duck legs, is salted and then cooked gently in its own fat at low temperature. The technique originated as a way to preserve meat before refrigeration, as the fat seals out air. Duck confit is a classic dish of southwestern France.
13. The Food and Agriculture Organization, which established World Food Day, is headquartered in which city?
- Rome
- New York
- Paris
- Geneva
The FAO has been headquartered in Rome, Italy, since 1951, having moved there from its original base in Washington, D.C. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Rome is also home to two other UN food agencies: the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
14. Injera, a large spongy sourdough flatbread eaten with stews, is a staple of which country's cuisine?
- Kenya
- Morocco
- Ethiopia
- Nigeria
Injera is central to Ethiopian and Eritrean dining, traditionally made from teff, a tiny ancient grain native to the region. The batter is fermented for several days, giving the bread its distinctive tangy flavor and airy, holey texture. Diners tear off pieces to scoop up spicy stews called wat, often eaten communally from a shared platter.
15. Which scale is used to measure the spicy heat of chili peppers?
- Brix scale
- Scoville scale
- Richter scale
- Maillard scale
The Scoville scale measures the pungency, or spicy heat, of chili peppers based on their concentration of capsaicin. It was devised by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912 using a taste-based dilution method. A bell pepper rates zero, while some of the hottest cultivated peppers exceed a million Scoville Heat Units.