About which country for the first time began to grow potatoes

Potatoes in the life of modern man is a habitual root crop, dishes from which are present on the table of an ordinary person almost daily. Relatively recently potato was considered a rarity, and the food made from it was a delicacy. We are so used to it that we do not even think about which country we first started growing potatoes.

History of origin

For the first time, potatoes were discovered by Europeans (military expedition) in the early 15th century in the territory of modern Peru (South America). It is in this area about 15 thousand years ago, the Indians began the process of domestication of wild tubers. The find was called truffles, because they looked very much like mushrooms. A little later, another traveler, Pedro Siesa de Leon, discovered fleshy tubers in the valley of the Cauca River (the territory of modern Ecuador). The Indians called them "daddy". This Pedro wrote in his book and called potatoes a special kind of peanuts, which after cooking become soft and to taste resemble a baked chestnut. Each harvest was accompanied by a religious holiday, the Indians honored and respected the potato, because it was the main food, and the cultivation of potatoes - the main occupation. Indians in all saw something divine, so potato tubers became a subject of worship.

It should be noted that in the territory of Peru and nowadays wild-growing potatoes are found, however cultivated varieties are already very different from it. Despite the fact that it began to be cultivated 15 thousand years ago, it became full of agricultural crops about 5 thousand years ago.

The emergence of potatoes in Europe

Europe learned potatoes in 1565. The first became the Spaniards. They did not like it, probably because they tried to eat it raw. In the same year, the tubers were brought to Italy and nicknamed it "tartufolli", for the same resemblance to truffles. The Germans changed the name to "tartofel", and then its usual name - potatoes - appeared. A few years later the tubers fall into Belgium, a little later in France. In Germany, the potatoes did not take root right away, especially in 1758-1763, when the country was engulfed by the famine caused by the war. People ate it and had no idea in which country they first began to grow potatoes.

Appearance in Russia

In our country, the emergence of potatoes is associated with the tsar-reformer Peter I. His weakness was Europe, he dragged all the European - customs, clothes, food. He also brought potatoes. There is an opinion that Peter sent the first bag of potatoes from Holland to Russia and ordered Count Sheremetyev to distribute it. Ostensibly from this bag the history of potatoes in our country began. At first, the Russians did not accept a new vegetable and did not inquire what country they first started to grow potatoes. But the tsar threatened the peasants with the death penalty - that's why everyone grew it.

The merits of the root crop would have been forgotten, were it not for the hungry war years. He gradually penetrated into the diet of Russian people, by the middle of the XVIII century the peasants already called him "second bread" and raised voluntarily. Root crops quickly adapted to the climate. Later, even the poorest people had potatoes on the table. Most Russian scientists wondered which country they first started growing potatoes, but the expeditions of the early 20th century proved that his homeland is South America. At the time of discovery of the central and northern parts of America about the potato, they knew nothing.

Dishes from potatoes

In Peru, where they first began to grow potatoes, they prepare from it a traditional dish - chuno. Simply put, it's canned from potatoes. In this country, a hot climate, so residents need to keep the crop for future use. Chuno is kept for several years and nothing happens to it. The recipe for its preparation is extremely simple: the potatoes are first laid out on straw and left overnight. Then the frozen tubers are pressed to remove excess moisture and dried in the sun.

In Russia, a large number of dishes are cooked from potatoes, the most common of which is mashed potatoes. Potatoes are also baked, fried, cooked, soared and baked with whole tubers on the coals. In addition, from it prepare a stuffing for a batch, add in salads, prepare every possible side dishes. Sometimes, when asked about the country in which potatoes were grown, I would like to reply: "In Russia!", So it got accustomed and became familiar.