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.
Where are eggplants from originally?
Eggplant is believed to have originated in the Indian center of plant origins, which includes Assam and Burma. There are many entirely different names for it in ancient Sanskrit, Bengali, and Hindustani, indicating its antiquity in India.
Where do eggplants live?
Information About Eggplant
They’re native to India and Asia, but are now cultivated all over the world for their delicious, spongy, edible fruit. They’re tender perennials in tropical climates, but most are grown as annuals.
Is eggplant a natural plant?
Eggplant (US, Canada, Australia), aubergine (UK, Ireland) or brinjal (Indian subcontinent, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa) is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit.
Are eggplants native to America?
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.
How did eggplants turn 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.
Why are eggplants called eggplants?
Those plants flowered and grew small white and oval fruits that looked just like chicken eggs. British gardeners named these “egg-plants” for their attractive appearance on plants they entered in competitions.
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.
When did eggplants become purple?
The first recorded use of eggplant as a color name in English was in 1915. The pinkish-purple-grayish color shown in the color box as eggplant was introduced by Crayola in 1998.
When should you not eat eggplant?
If there are any brown or dark spots in the flesh, it’s best to toss the vegetable—however, there’s one exception to this rule. Eggplant is susceptible to enzymatic browning, when fruits and veggies begin to brown after being exposed to oxygen (think: an apple or avocado that turns brown).
How did 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.
Is eggplant A Superfood?
Superfood: Eggplant
Eggplant is low in calories and sodium, and is a great source of dietary fiber, potassium, and B vitamins. The next time you’re admiring a bright eggplant, just think of all the antioxidants and minerals it provides.
What state grows the most eggplant?
State of New Jersey
The top eggplant grower
According to the State of New Jersey Department of Agriculture, New Jersey is the top producer of eggplants in the Unites States. Harvesting 849 acres each year (as of 2019), New Jersey stands ahead of other leading producers like California, Florida, and Georgia.
How did eggplant get to Italy?
The eggplant arrived in Italy during the 15th century – when the Arabs brought it from India.
What is eggplant called in England?
Aubergine
Aubergine (UK) / Eggplant (US)
The word aubergine, used in the UK, comes from French.
What color were eggplants originally?
The first eggplants grown weren’t the large purple varieties frequently grown today, but rather small, white varieties with fruits shaped like eggs (thus the name eggplant).
Why is cooked eggplant bitter?
Eggplants are made bitter by phenolic compounds known as Anthocyanins, and this effect usually occurs when the eggplant is old and has been stored for too long. The seeds are often responsible for the bitterness, but the flesh and skin can also be bitter in some cases.
Is it OK if eggplant is green?
An eggplant that shows a green hue is not rotten, it’s actually the contrary. What you want to see in eggplants is shades of green because that will often mean they’re ripe.
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 is eggplant called in India?
Brinjal
Brinjal or baingan, known as eggplant and aubergine in North America and Europe respectively, is a very important common man’s vegetable in India. It is often described as a poor man’s vegetable because it is popular amongst small-scale farmers and low income consumers.
Why do Indians call it brinjal?
The word brinjal is derived directly from the Portuguese beringela. Aubergine is known as brinjal in Indian, South African, Malaysian and Singaporean English.