Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on.
When did eggplants originate?
Food historians have traced eggplants to their origins in either India or China. Some records show that eggplants were cultivated as early as 50 BCE. Travelers carried the fruit west to Europe, then eventually it arrived in America, thanks to Thomas Jefferson bringing seeds back from France.
Where does an eggplant come from?
Its origin is considered to be India where it continues to grow wild. This spiny, bitter, orange, pea-sized fruit has been cultivated throughout India and China for more than 1500 years. As trade routes opened, eggplant was introduced to Europe by the Arabs and transported to Africa by the Persians.
Why is eggplant called eggplant without the egg?
According to research from Purdue University’s department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, the English-language use of the name “eggplant” dates to the British occupation of India, where white egg-shaped fruits were spotted.
How did the eggplant evolve naturally?
‘ The team found that the group containing the relatives of the aubergine originated in northeastern Africa some two million years ago. Plants then dispersed eastwards to tropical Asia, and to southern and western Africa. In Asia, the dispersal gave rise to a species that scientists call Solanum insanum.
Who first discovered eggplant?
Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on.
Who named the eggplant?
The name of eggplant was given it by Europeans in the middle of the eighteenth century because the variety they knew had fruits that were the shape and size of goose eggs. That variety also had fruits that are a whitish or yellowish colour rather than the wine purple that is more familiar to us nowadays.
Is eggplant good for health?
Eggplant has antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It’s also high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help cells do a better job of processing sugar if you have diabetes.
What are the benefits of eating eggplant?
7 Surprising Health Benefits of Eggplants
- Rich in Many Nutrients.
- High in Antioxidants.
- May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease.
- May Promote Blood Sugar Control.
- Could Help With Weight Loss.
- May Have Cancer-Fighting Benefits.
- Very Easy to Add to Your Diet.
What is another name for eggplant?
eggplant, (Solanum melongena), also called aubergine or Guinea squash, tender perennial plant of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), grown for its edible fruits. Eggplant requires a warm climate and has been cultivated in its native Southeast Asia since remote antiquity.
How did eggplants become purple?
Aubergines come in many different varieties, and not all of them are the characteristic colour. However, many of them are a shade of violet or purple, and this is caused by the presence of anthocyanins.
What do Americans call an eggplant?
Aubergine
Eggplant or Aubergine
The American name, eggplant, has been used since the early 1800’s and is a reference to the vegetable being compared to a swan’s egg by an English botanist in the 1600’s.
What does it mean to call someone an eggplant?
eggplant: (US, slang, derogatory, offensive) A black person (used mainly by Italian-Americans).
How did eggplants evolve?
Lester and Hasan (1991) suggested that the eggplant was derived from the subtropical species S. incanum, native to north Africa and the Middle East. They suggested that the wild progenitor developed as a garden weed, and through human selection in south-east Asia, progressively more advanced cultivars were selected.
What is eggplant introduction?
Introduction. Eggplant are members of the same plant family as tomatoes and peppers (Solanaceae family) and cultural practices employed in eggplant production are similar to those crops. A native of the tropics, eggplant are warm-season plants that are more vulnerable to cold temperatures than tomatoes.
How has the eggplant changed over time?
The domestication process increased the fruit size and weight of eggplants and altered the prickliness, flavor, and flesh and peel color, a centuries-long process which is carefully documented in ancient Chinese literature.
How long does an eggplant live?
How long do eggplant plants live? Eggplant plants can live up to three years in very warm climates, like zones 10-12. But in most regions they’re grown as annuals, and only live for one season.
What kind of plant is eggplant?
Eggplant, Solanum melongena, is a tropical, herbaceous, perennial plant, closely related to tomato, in the family Solanaceae which is grown for its edible fruit. The plants has a branching stem and simple, long, flat.
What is eggplant in the Philippines?
In the Philippines, eggplant is known as talong and is the number one vegetable in terms of production area. An average of 21,225 hectares is planted with eggplant each year.
How do British say eggplant?
Similarly, an eggplant is called an aubergine in the UK. The American yam is not commonly found in the UK, yet the term is often used in the US to refer to what the British call a sweet potato; the Brits eat theirs roasted (as they do most things) and have not yet warmed to the American dish of “marshmallow yams.”
What do they call an eggplant in England?
aubergine
The English know the fruit as aubergine and Americans know it was an eggplant. Brinjal is also a name used in Asia.