It spread Anglo-European culture across the nation and caused trade to flourish, but the story of the Chinese labourers who built the track has largely been forgotten.
A polarising ingredient in much of the world, coriander is an unsung hero of Indian cuisine. And one chef wants to bring it into the limelight, giving it "the glory it deserves".
In a lesser-known area of Sicily, local artisans, shepherds, cheesemakers and farmers are opening their doors to create a new way for travellers to experience their island.
France is facing a widespread dearth of Dijon mustard, which news outlets wasted no time in attributing to the war in Ukraine. But the story is a whole lot spicier than that.