Ask Gastropod: White Chocolate, Jimmies, Chile vs. Mustard Burns, and Asparagus Pee
Nov 21, 2023
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Guests include historians and scientists who bust myths and solve mysteries about food. They explore topics such as white chocolate's authenticity, the origins of 'jimmies' for sprinkles, the burning sensation of chili peppers vs horseradish, and the science behind asparagus pee.
Asparagusic acid in asparagus leads to sulfur-based compounds causing the smelly urine odor after consumption.
The term 'Jimmy's' for chocolate sprinkles does not have a racially derogatory history and may have originated from Just Born Candy Company's claim in the 1930s.
Deep dives
Main Idea/Key Point 1: Asparagusic acid in asparagus is responsible for the foul-smelling urine after consuming the vegetable.
Asparagusic acid, a compound present in asparagus, gets metabolized in the kidneys into smaller, more volatile sulfur-based molecules. These molecules are responsible for the unpleasant odor experienced in urine after eating asparagus. The odor is often described as rotten eggs or sulfur-like, and it can last for up to 24 hours.
Main Idea/Key Point 2: Not everyone can smell the odor in their urine after eating asparagus.
Approximately 8% of people don't produce the smelly compounds in their urine after consuming asparagus. Additionally, about 30 to 50% of people lack the ability to smell the odor, potentially due to a genetic mutation. The reasons behind this variation in odor production and perception are still not fully understood.
Main Idea/Key Point 3: The term 'Jimmy's' for chocolate sprinkles has uncertain origins and no clear evidence of racist connotations.
The term 'Jimmy's' for chocolate sprinkles may have originated from Just Born Candy Company's claim in the 1930s, but historical references to chocolate sprinkles predate their alleged invention. 'Jimmy's' is primarily used in New England and Philadelphia, and it does not appear to have a racially derogatory history. However, there is a separate association between the term 'Jim' and derogatory racial connotations due to the Jim Crow laws, which are unrelated to chocolate sprinkles.
Main Idea/Key Point 4: Some theories speculate that white chocolate is not considered 'real' chocolate due to the absence of cocoa solids.
White chocolate is often deemed not 'real' chocolate because it lacks cocoa solids, which give regular chocolate its characteristic brown color. However, white chocolate does contain cocoa butter, which is derived from cocoa beans and constitutes more than 50% of the bean. High-quality white chocolate can showcase the unique flavors of cocoa butter, challenging the perception that it is not authentic chocolate.
Is white chocolate really chocolate? What causes asparagus pee? Sprinkles or jimmies—which do you call them, and is the term ‘jimmies’ racist? Why is the heat of mustard and wasabi so different from a chile burn? This episode, Gastropod is getting to the bottom of your most pressing questions—which also means diving into some of the internet’s most controversial food debates. Listen in now as we call in historians and scientists to bust myths, solve mysteries, and find out why some people turn asparagus into the devil’s own brew!