cyanide | CulinaryLore

Why Do People Say “Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid?”

December 22, 2025May 18, 2015 by Eric Troy / CulinaryLore

Every once in a while, you may hear someone say, “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.” When they say it, it doesn’t sound as innocent as what the Kool-Aid man dispenses after he crashes through a wall. They say it as a warning, critically, and with some portent. It isn’t because they question the artificial flavors and colors, and … Read more

Edible Berry Rules of Thumb: Why They Often Fail

March 10, 2026February 23, 2013 by Eric Troy / CulinaryLore

Survival guides will generally give you some berry rules to live by. It goes something like this: Avoid white and yellow berries since about 90% of these are poisonous. About half of red berries are poisonous. Most black or blue berries are edible. Aggregate berries, like raspberry, blackberries, thimbleberries, and salmonberries, are 99% edible. These, unfortunately, … Read more