10 Star Trek Foods We Wish Were Real

Early during Voyager’s mission, Neelix introduces the crew to leola root. Curious, Commander Chakotay takes a bite, then promptly spits it out. “You expect us to eat this?” he demands. “This is the reason I brought you here, Commander!” Neelix says.

Leola root is ugly. It smells foul, tastes worse, and it’s covered in mildew. In a word, it’s revolting. And yet, it was an unqualified blessing to the Voyager crew, being one of the greatest and most abundant sources of nutrients in the Delta Quadrant. As the ship hobbled its way home in the beginning, the crew was nourished by leola root.

Even after Voyager had its replicators back online, Neelix, the ship’s head chef, stuck with leola root. He demonstrated its versatility in an array of dishes – broth, soup, stew, souffle, tea, and pilaf – and even Tuvok made a sweet leola root tart once.

Leola root, like Neelix himself, is a reminder to not let a little distaste turn us away from a fundamentally wholesome and essential thing.