5 foods America gave to the world

omotolani

January 5, 2018 4:47 PM

From peanuts and chili pepper to tomatoes, these crops were brought by early explorers and traders.

The entire culinary landscape of the planet would be completely different if it wasnt for

ALSO READ: Try this pot roast recipe for the family

1. Chili Pepper

It all began over 10,000 years ago in the Americas. Peppers were clearly one of the first crops grown by the Native Americans. From Peru, up to New Mexico, these prehistoric people grew chili peppers for both their culinary and medicinal benefits.

Christopher Columbus is credited with naming them "peppers.

2. Peanuts

Today, China is the world's largest producer of peanuts. But, it was brought to China by the Portuguese in the 1600's and became a very popular addition to many dishes.

There is evidence that peanuts were domesticated in South America over 7,00 years ago.

3. Tomatoes

The exact dates and location of the first tomatoes are still debated, but sources agree it's indigenous to South America. The Mayans were the first people to have reportedly used the tomato to cook. It was spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world via the Spanish explorers.

ALSO READ: How to make this northern gluten-free pancake

4. Avocado

There is evidence avocado has been cultivated in Central America since 5,000 BC.

The Mayans believed the avocado had magical powers and was an aphrodisiac. In fact, the name comes from the Aztec word for this fruit "ahuacat" which means "testicle."

5. Corn

Native Americans were cultivating "maize" in what is now Mexico over 5,000 years ago.

The term "corn" was actually a generic English word for any granular particle, most often used when referring to other cereal grains. Corn was vital in the survival of the first European settlers, as it produces much more grain from an acre of land than any other crop, and can be eaten fresh and stored for long periods dry.

omotolani