by Dawn Smith-Pfeifer
If you want to impress your friends with your food knowledge, look no further than today’s post! We’re sharing some interesting (and some odd) food facts that took me down several rabbit holes to find the best, most accurate knowledge the interwebs could provide! You're welcome! 😉
Bananas are berries, but strawberries aren't!
Despite their name, strawberries aren't classified as true berries. Scientifically speaking, a berry is a fruit produced from the ovary of a single flower with seeds embedded in the flesh. So, by definition, bananas fit the bill! But strawberries, well, they're actually "aggregate fruits," formed from a single flower that has many ovaries. Other “berries” include avocados, pumpkins and cucumbers. And after exhaustive research, I found you actually CAN eat the skins of bananas. I haven’t tried any of the banana peel recipes I found yet, but maybe someday…..
Carrots weren't always orange
While orange carrots are the preferred color for most of us, they actually come in a variety of colors, including purple, white, and red. There is a story that, during the 17th century Dutch growers selectively bred orange carrots to honor the Dutch Royal Family, the House of Orange. It’s a neat story, but unfortunately, it isn’t true. How ever it was determined that orange is the best color for a carrot, I grew up eating carrots straight out of the garden, even with a little dirt still on them, they were always orange, and I loved them! Still do. So for me, orange carrots will always taste best!
Honey never spoils
Got a jar of honey lying around for years? Don't worry, it's still good! According to a Smithsonian Magazine article, archaeologists have found pots of honey in ancient Egyptian tombs thousands of years old and still perfectly edible. (I’m not sure if anyone actually tasted the stuff. I know I wouldn’t!) Apparently, honey's low moisture content and high acidity create an environment that prevents the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.
You may THINK you’ve tasted wasabi
Not everyone is a fan of wasabi (like me, for instance). It reminds me too much of horseradish, and I had a bad experience with that once….but I digress. Actually, I’m not really digressing because most “wasabi” found in stores and restaurants IS actually horseradish with some mustard and food coloring. True wasabi (Wasabia japonica), is incredibly rare and expensive. But it also has natural antibacterial properties, which is why it's served with raw fish – to kill any lurking bacteria. (I KNEW there was a reason I would never eat raw fish!) Plus, it's said to clear your sinuses, which I totally believe, but will opt for a squirt of saline spray instead! (TMI?)
Fortune cookies aren’t really Chinese
Despite being a staple in Chinese restaurants, fortune cookies are not actually a Chinese invention. According to Wikipedia, they “most likely” originated from cookies made by Japanese immigrants. The modern fortune cookie with the little message tucked inside has been attributed to Makota Hagiwara, or possibly David Jung, or maybe Keiichi Kito, all founders of U.S. eateries. Whoever the true “inventor” was, suffice it to say, the modern fortune cookie was due to some culinary creativity in the United States.
Popcorn has been around for centuries
You might think of popcorn as a movie theater treat, but it's been popping up (pun intended) for thousands of years! Archaeological evidence suggests that corn was popped as far back as 6,700 to 3,000 years ago in ancient Peru. Corn was domesticated in Mexico between 9-10,000 years ago from a grass called teosinte. This photo is by John Doebley and was found on Wikipedia. Teosinte is on top, maize (corn) is on bottom and the middle plant is a hybrid of the two. Which just goes to show you we've been modifying stuff for thousands of years to make it more edible. But that's a story for another day!
Ketchup was once a medicine
Before it became the ubiquitous condiment we know today, ketchup was used as medicine. According to Ripleys.com, Dr. John Cooke Bennet added tomatoes to what was then a concoction of fish or mushrooms. He claimed his recipe could cure ailments like diarrhea, indigestion, and even jaundice, and had his recipe made into pills. Apparently, copy-cat marketers at the time made increasingly wild claims and all the false claims made the entire “ketchup as medicine” industry collapse. Thankfully, it evolved into the tasty topping we enjoy on our burgers and fries instead of a dubious cure-all.
And there you have it! Some deliciously delightful food facts to share at your next dinner party or simply impress your friends with your newfound culinary knowledge.
Do you have any interesting food facts to share? I'd love to hear about them and maybe include them in another fun food facts blog post. Just email me at onyourtable@ndfb.org.
Happy eating!
Dawn is the editor for the On Your Table site and welcomes all questions, comments and information to help make this site more relevant for its readers!