Medieval European Feasts Lacked Potatoes and Tomatoes Until the Columbian Exchange
Originating from Peru, the potato made its way to Europe in the late 1500s but faced rejection for two hundred years due to fears of its toxicity. During the medieval period, European diets primarily featured turnips, parsnips, and skirrets. Carrots were predominantly pale yellow or purple until the 16th and 17th centuries, with the 'Long Orange' variety first recorded in the 18th century. Tomatoes, initially regarded as poisonous, became popular in the 1700s. The Columbian Exchange, which started in 1492, brought new foods such as corn, bell peppers, pumpkins, and chocolate, significantly altering European culinary practices. Coffee and tea were introduced in the 17th century, while prior to this, Europe depended on local produce and some exotic imports from the Near East and North Africa.
Key facts
- Potatoes originated in Peru and reached Europe in the latter half of the 16th century, taking two more centuries to be accepted.
- Medieval Europeans used turnips, parsnips, and skirrets instead of potatoes.
- Orange carrots were not documented until the 16th and 17th centuries; 'Long Orange' was formally documented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 18th century.
- Tomatoes were believed poisonous and only became popular in the 18th century.
- Before tomatoes, tartness came from vinegar (wine or cider), verjuice, sorrel leaves, and gooseberries.
- The Columbian Exchange began in 1492, bringing corn, bell peppers, chilies, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, pineapples, blueberries, avocados, peanuts, chocolate, and tomatoes to Europe.
- Potatoes became so important that crop failure caused whole nations to starve.
- Coffee and tea swept through Europe in the 17th century, introduced from the Middle East (originally Africa) and the Far East.
Entities
Artists
- William of Orange
Institutions
- Wikimedia Commons
- Flickr
- Corutti family
Locations
- Peru
- Netherlands
- Verona
- Italy
- Ireland
- Russia
- Spain
- Hungary
- Prussia
- Europe
- Americas
- Near East
- North Africa
- Far East
- Africa
- Middle East