Do You Know the Origins of Vegetables?
Do you know the origins of the vegetables that are staples on our tables? Here is some information you may have never heard before...
Did you know that the tomato, which belongs to the eggplant family, actually originates from South and Central America?
A variety of tomato was discovered in Peru, then cultivated in Mexico, and later sent to Europe. It arrived in Turkey in the 1800s.
The potato was found growing wild in the Andes Mountains and spread from there all the way to Argentina. Taking its name from the Quechua language, the potato arrived in Turkey in the 1800s, just like the tomato.
The artichoke, whose homeland is Ethiopia, is grown in Turkey's Marmara and Aegean regions. As you may know, it is an herbaceous plant that blooms in spring with blue-purple flowers. It is cultivated in clay, sandy, and moist soils.
The homeland of red cabbage is said to be the shores of the Baltic Sea, as cabbage grows best in humid areas close to the sea.
The pepper, which came to Turkey during the Ottoman era, originates from South America. Over time, it became one of the most widely grown and consumed vegetables here — because almost no dish is complete without pepper, and it makes a wonderful pickle too.
The homeland of spinach is accepted to be Western Asia. It thrives in cool climates and is resistant to cold weather and frost. It can grow at altitudes of up to 2,000 m (6,560 ft). With the exception of the Eastern Black Sea region where it is very limited, spinach can be grown in all other regions of Turkey and is produced in large quantities.
White cabbage, discovered in the Mediterranean region, can be stored and preserved for a long time. Rich in vitamin C as well as calcium and iron, white cabbage is grown throughout Turkey.
Eggplant, just like white cabbage, is grown all across Turkey. However, it was first cultivated in India, then brought to Africa, and finally to Europe.
Leek first appeared along the Mediterranean coast. The Romans used to eat leeks to aid sleep. Beyond its hypnotic and sleep-inducing properties, it was also said to have aphrodisiac qualities.
Cauliflower is actually derived from cabbage through the shortening and thickening of its flower stalks. Native to the Eastern Mediterranean region, cauliflower is most widely grown in Turkey's Aegean Region.
