Tag: Microorganism

For centuries, civilizations have harvested spirulina, but its true biological identity is often misunderstood. Although commonly referred to as a blue-green algae, the scientific answer to 'what is spirulina classified as?' points to a different, more ancient, group of organisms: cyanobacteria.

Did you know that yeast is more closely related to animals than to plants? This is because the single-celled microorganism belongs to its own biological kingdom, Fungi, which is distinct from both the plant and animal kingdoms. This definitive biological classification is key to understanding the answer to the common culinary and dietary question: is yeast considered a vegetable?

Over 5,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians used yeast for baking and brewing, even though they didn't understand the science behind it. Today, we know that the answer to "what food group does yeast come under?" is not a traditional one, as yeast is classified biologically as a single-celled fungus. This puts it in a kingdom of its own, separate from plants and animals, yet it has been a fundamental part of human food production for millennia.