Mainz – October 28, 2026 -- Two new episodes of ZDF's "Terra X: Chemie des Kochens" (Chemistry of Cooking) air on Sunday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Both are already available in the ZDF streaming portal.
Two new films follow the hit episodes "Feuer" and "Wasser"
The episodes are titled "Erde – wo Geschmack entsteht" (Earth – Where Flavor Begins) and "Luft – die unsichtbare Zutat" (Air – The Invisible Ingredient). Dr. Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim investigates the often overlooked forces that shape the aroma, texture and taste of food.
Truffles, sourdough and cream puffs anchor the questions
Why do truffles smell so intense? Why does sourdough bread rise? How does a cream puff get its characteristic hollow? Nguyen-Kim shows that the decisive processes often happen out of sight, deep in the soil or in the air.
The tour runs from Tuscan truffle groves to Europe's top kitchens
Nguyen-Kim visits truffle groves in Tuscany, vineyards in Austria, bakeries, breweries and leading restaurant kitchens across Europe. She explains how microorganisms, minerals, gases and water vapor determine whether food develops its aroma and dishes succeed.
The series uses macro footage, time-lapse sequences and animations to make invisible biological, chemical and physical processes visible.