The food here is generally British-inspired and not particularly flavorful. So, if you come here with high culinary expectations, you might be  disappointed. As I’ve mentioned before, when living abroad, it’s essential to create your own enjoyment—otherwise, life can end up feeling dull. I believe that enjoyment is something you generate yourself, not something given by others.  Each country has its own unique food culture, and finding enjoyment in meals we consume multiple times a day is particularly important.

In our household, we use spices to add an accent to dishes that might otherwise become repetitive. As I’ve mentioned before, I grow and  use various types of herbs, including chili peppers. Even with the same ingredients, different herbs can transform a dish, bringing a fresh  flavor to the table. I keep at least ten types of herbs planted year-round, so I always have them on hand. Around this time, many  herbs are blooming or producing seeds. Since most are annuals, I cut the stems from the base, bundle them upside down to dry thoroughly,  then harvest the seeds by tapping them with a mallet over newspaper to use for planting next year. I crush the dried leaves into powder and  store them in empty cans, making it easy to add a touch of spice to dishes whenever I need it.

Bees, such as honeybees, bumblebees, and carpenter bees swarm around herb blossoms; they simply love these flowers. The image here shows  a honeybee and a carpenter bee. Carpenter bees are particularly plump and large, with long hair covering their entire bodies.  They fly around with a loud buzzing sound, and as children, we called them “kumambachi,” thinking, “Being stung by such a huge bee  would be dreadful.” However, contrary to this belief, carpenter bees are unthreatening. They’re surprisingly gentle—they’ll land on your hand.

The bees in the image are gathered around oregano flowers, a herb often used in pizza. Bees, especially flower bees, seem to have a particular preference for herb blossoms, likely finding value in  bringing the nectar and propolis from these herbs back to their hives. African bees in Brazil also show a preference for herbs and medicinal  plants, especially subspecies of rosemary, locally known as “alecrim.” Propolis derived from this herb is highly potent, containing  a beneficial component called Artepillin C. It’s as if they are genetically programmed to know the value of herbs. This is similar to how bees naturally visit to the medicinal Manuka tree for producing Manuka honey.