The dish is both sweet and astringent, and the judges think the dish needed a sauce to bring everything together.
—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 May 2026
The seeds and surrounding juices inside uncooked tomatoes can be slightly bitter and astringent, so squeeze them out before chopping the flesh (this also prevents the sauce from getting too watery).
As the base for a marinade and grilling sauce, passion fruit's puckery tartness—think mango and pineapple with a slightly sour kick—is an ideal complement to rich, buttery shellfish.
—
Sheena Chihak,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Nov. 2022
Their recipe combines silky texture, puckery tartness and richness (courtesy of olive oil) in every bite.
—
Ben MimsCooking Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Oct. 2022
Wormwood Like rue, wormwood is another medicinal herb that’s typically grown as an ornamental these days and enjoyed for its delightfully pungent aroma.
—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 May 2026
Those bright, vibrant blooms in shades of yellow, orange, and red also repel flies and other insects thanks to their pungent odors.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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