Yum But Why? is the food podcast that makes you go… yum… but wait… why?! Join mom and daughter duo as they munch, crunch, and giggle their way through food mysteries, silly snack debates, and tasty experiments. From figuring out if a tomato is really a fruit to trying new foods, it’s a delicious adventure for curious kids (and hungry grown-ups)!
What if some of the food around you was hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Yum But Why?, Kinara and Aparna explore the world of foraging, from blackberries, dandelions, nettles, cattails, acorns, and even edible flowers to the much bigger questions behind gathering food from the land. They look at how foraging connects to human history, Indigenous stewardship, family traditions, and the way we think about where our food comes from. Then Kinara sits down with Bay Area forager Cindy (@ci...
29 Jul 2026
Spilling the Tea on Boba: How Bubble Tea Took Over
Boba isn't just a drink anymore, it's a whole vibe. In this episode, we explore the surprising history of boba, from its debated origins in 1980s Taiwan to a ten-year court battle over who invented it. We follow the tapioca pearl’s journey from South America to Asia, investigate the unexpected story behind the word “boba,” and discover how bubble tea shops became important gathering places for Asian American communities. Along the way, we explore boba trends around the world, explain wh...
11 Jun 2026
Birthday Food Traditions: Cake, Candles, and Seaweed Soup
Where did birthday cake actually come from? Why do we blow out candles and make a wish? And why does a Korean birthday start with a bowl of seaweed soup? In this episode, Kinara and Aparna take a delicious trip through the history and science of birthday food. They trace birthday cake all the way back to ancient Greece, uncover the surprisingly dramatic story behind the Happy Birthday song, and tour birthday food traditions from Korea, Ghana, Brazil, Australia, the Netherlands, and more. Plus...
15 Apr 2026
The Scoop on Ice Cream 🍦
Why does ice cream make your brain freeze? Who first invented frozen desserts? And how did people enjoy icy treats thousands of years ago — even in the desert? In this delicious episode of Yum But Why?, Kinara and Aparna dig into the surprisingly global history of ice cream, from ancient Persian faloodeh and Mughal kulfi to stretchy Turkish dondurma, Japanese mochi ice cream, and more. Along the way, they explore the science behind what makes ice cream so creamy, why it gets icy in the freeze...
30 Jan 2026
New Year's Food Traditions
New Year's Food Traditions Around the World Ring in the new year with delicious traditions from across the globe! In this episode, we explore why people eat special foods on New Year's Day—from Hoppin' John and collard greens in the American South to 12 grapes at midnight in Spain, from long noodles in Japan to tamales in Mexico. Discover the deep cultural meanings behind these foods: round foods for prosperity, long foods for longevity, green foods for wealth, and forward-moving foods for pr...
30 Nov 2025
The Ultimate Food Trivia Challenge
Get ready to test your food knowledge! In this fun-filled trivia episode, we challenge each other (and YOU!) with four rounds of food facts, myths, and mysteries. 🥕 Round 1: Fruit & Veggie Mystery - Can you guess the food from the clues? 🍫 Round 2: Quick-Fire Trivia & Jokes - From chocolate chip cookies to the longest noodle ever recorded! 🍕 Round 3: This or That - Switzerland vs USA chocolate consumption, popsicles vs ice cream, and more surprising comparisons 🦃 Rou...
30 Sept 2025
Fall Festival Foods
This fall, we are taking you on a delicious journey through: 🪔 Diwali's Festival of Lights & sweet traditions 🎃 Halloween's 2,000-year journey from turnips to pumpkins 💀 Día de los Muertos beautiful celebration of memory 🌕 China's Mid-Autumn Festival & the legend of Chang'e Did you know jack-o'-lanterns used to be carved from TURNIPS? Or that mooncakes symbolize family reunion? Every festival food has a story! Find us on Instagram: @yumbutwhy Email us: yumbutwh...
5 Sept 2025
Tantalizing Taste Buds
Join us as we dive into the amazing world of taste buds! 🍕🍋🍫 From the five fantastic flavors (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami) to the truth about spicy foods, sour face scrunches, miracle berries, and even why cats can’t taste sweet, this episode is packed with fun facts, jokes, and a tasty challenge you can try at home. Get ready to explore the flavor party happening right inside your mouth! 🎉👅 Find us on Instagram: @yumbutwhy Email us: yumbutwhy@gmail.com
14 Aug 2025
Fruit or Vegetable?
Episode 1: Fruit or Vegetable? Let’s Settle the Debate! In the very first episode of Yum But Why, mom and daughter duo dive into a classic food mystery: what really makes a fruit a fruit and a vegetable a vegetable? From seed secrets to surprising “fruit-vegetables” like tomatoes and cucumbers, this fun and educational episode is packed with jokes, trivia, and quick food facts. Perfect for curious kids (and grown-ups!) who love learning about the foods they eat. Find us on Instagram: @yumbut...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
18 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
7 ratings
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