| Antoine-Augustin Parmentier | |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 December 1813 (aged 76) Paris, First French Empire |
| Resting place | Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris |
| Citizenship | France |
| Known for | Popularising potatoes in France |
When were potatoes introduced to France?
The first written mention of the potato is a receipt for delivery dated 28 November 1567 between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Antwerp. In France, at the end of the 16th century, the potato had been introduced to the Franche-Comté, the Vosges of Lorraine and Alsace.
How did potatoes get to France?
In 1536, Spanish Conquistadors in Peru discovered the flavors of the potato and transported them to Europe. At first, the vegetable was not widely accepted. Sir Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589, but it took nearly four decades for the potato to spread to the rest of Europe.
When were potatoes introduced to Europe?
sixteenth century
Originating from the highlands of the Andes, South America, potatoes were introduced to Europe in the sixteenth century. They were initially popular in Spain because they provided cheap sustenance for the poor.
Did the French eat potatoes?
It’s hard to imagine French cuisine without potatoes- they are such an inherent part of French food today that I never imagined this staple was an introduced product and has only been part of the French diet since Louis XVI in the 17th Century.
What country is the potato originally from?
The humble potato was domesticated in the South American Andes some 8,000 years ago and was only brought to Europe in the mid-1500s, from where it spread west and northwards, back to the Americas, and beyond.
Why were potatoes illegal in France?
However, French people did not trust the new food, which was used mainly for feeding pigs, and in 1748 growing potatoes was banned by parliament as they were thought to spread disease, especially leprosy.
Who planted the first potato?
The earliest recorded trace of the spud was found in the Peruvian Andes at around 6000BC. Research implies that communities of hunters initially came to the South American continent 7000 years before harvesting wild potato plants. The plants sprouted around Lake Titicaca situated high up in the mountains.
What did Europe eat before potatoes?
Cereals remained the most important staple during the Early Middle Ages as rice was introduced late, and the potato was only introduced in 1536, with a much later date for widespread consumption. Barley, oats, and rye were eaten by the poor.
What did the Irish eat before potatoes?
Grains. Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet.
Who invented French fries?
It’s said that this dish was discovered by American soldiers in Belgium during World War I and, since the dominant language of southern Belgium is French, they dubbed the tasty potatoes “French” fries.
Who brought tomatoes to Europe?
Spanish conquistadors
In the early 16th century, Spanish conquistadors returning from expeditions in Mexico and other parts of Mesoamerica were thought to have first introduced the seeds to southern Europe. Some researchers credit Cortez with bringing the seeds to Europe in 1519 for ornamental purposes.
What country produces the most potatoes?
China
>1,000,000 tonnes
| Rank | Country | 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 75,595,403 |
| 2 | India | 50,190,000 |
| 3 | Ukraine | 20,269,190 |
| 4 | Russia | 22,074,874 |
Why didn’t Europeans eat potatoes at first?
While the potato was becoming a part of European cooking ever since the Spaniards brought them to the continent in the mid-1500s, the French were not so hot on the potato. They refused to accept the vegetable, referring to it as “hog feed” and believing that these tubers caused leprosy.
How long were potatoes banned in France?
1748 to 1772
Potatoes are believed to have been banned in France from 1748 to 1772.
When did France declare potatoes edible?
1772
Due largely to Parmentier’s efforts, the Paris Faculty of Medicine declared potatoes edible in 1772.
Why is a potato called a spud?
Potatoes are occasionally referred to as Irish potatoes or white potatoes in the United States, to distinguish them from sweet potatoes. The name spud for a potato comes from the digging of soil (or a hole) prior to the planting of potatoes.
When did humans start eating potatoes?
The oldest known evidence of the domestication of potatoes is found in the North Creek Shelter Site in Utah’s Escalante Valley. Potato starch residues have been found on stone grinding tools, which are 10,900 years old.
Why are potatoes called potatoes?
The word is believed to be derived from the Spanish discoverers’ understanding of the South American Indians’ name for the plant, papa or patata. Over most of the United States, “potato” refers to Solanum tuberosum, the “white” or “Irish” potato, although in many parts of our South the term means “sweet potato”.
Is ketchup illegal in France?
A school cafeteria without ketchup? It’s un-American! In 2011, France banned the tomato condiment from school cafeterias in order to preserve French cuisine. The one ironic exception: Students can still eat ketchup on French fries.
Were potatoes banned in England?
The Polish Potatoes Order 2004 makes it illegal to “import into England, potatoes which he knows to be or has reasonable cause to suspect to be Polish potatoes”. The order was made after outbreaks of ring rot on Polish potato farms.