Food facts that blew my mind (and a few I'm not sure about)

[DavidLC]

I've been going down a rabbit hole collecting food trivia and some of these genuinely surprised me.
Like: carrots were purple until the 1600s. The Dutch selectively bred the orange ones to honor the House of Orange. Purple, white, red... all came first.
Or: the tin can was invented in 1810, but the first can opener didn't show up until 1858. For 50 years people were using chisels and bayonets.
And ketchup started as a fermented fish sauce in China ("ke-tsiap" from the Fujian region). British traders brought it to Europe, and Americans only added tomatoes in the 1830s.

But I know I'm missing good ones. What food fact do you pull out at dinner parties that nobody believes until you prove it?

 

[Barriehie]

Here recently MypinchofItaly was making some soup with mallow leaves and some didn't know that marshmallows actually came from the roots of that plant unlike today's sugar puffed thing that's called a marshmallow.

 

[karadekoolaid]

People often associate Indian food with hot, spicy dishes; and yet, before the early 17th century, there were no chiles in India. The hottest spices were black pepper and long pepper.
Once the Portuguese had established trade in Goa, they brought chiles, potatoes, pineapples, tomatoes, green beans and corn to India. India, in exchange, gave them mangoes - now the national fruit of Venezuela!

 

[oldjanie]

I have a few:
Bird’s custard was invented because the guy’s wife had an egg allergy.
The Romans were bemused that native Britons kept chickens for eggs.
In medieval England, feasts consisted of starter, main , dessert served all at the same time. The courses were the clearing of the table.
Similarly, trenchers ( hollowed out bread) were used instead of plates, then given to the poor.
In England the names of livestock are Saxon, while the terms for the food ( Beef, pork, etc) is French. Post 1066.
Probably more. Pyramids built on bread and beer. It’s a treasure trove.

 

[rjchurch47]

Did you know "Fanta" was invented in Nazi Germany as they couldn't get Coca-Cola due to the US trade embargo.