Have you ever saved your morning coffee by asking yourself where the precious black grain comes from? Or to savor a delicious cheese and tomato pizza without imagining for a moment that without the discovery of the new world, these exquisite dishes would never have existed on our plates? It is drowned in such a fascinating mystery that the true essence of European cuisine resides, imprint by the influences of the new world.
Through this article, we will travel in time, and explore how discovery trips have not only redesigned the world map, but also the way we eat.
Food journey: from America to Europe
At a time when Christopher Columbus set foot on the new world, a myriad of foodstuffs until then unknown In Europe began their transatlantic journey.
The case of tomatoes
Take the tomato for example. Originally from the Andes, this flamboyant red fruit crossed the ocean to reach Europe. Today, it is difficult to design Italian cuisine without this juicy fruit. Pasta in tomato sauce, margherita pizza, Spanish gazpacho: all these iconic dishes were possible thanks to the discovery of the new world.
coffee beans and corn
Let’s not relegate coffee and corn to the background. Coffee, originally from Ethiopia but widely cultivated in South America, has become the daily elixir of millions of Europeans. Corn has found its place in many dishes, from Italian polenta to Spanish tortilla.
Impact on culinary habits
but these new ingredients have done much more than diversifying the palette of European cuisine flavors; They transformed our culinary habits and our approach to food. How not to think of the ritual around coffee, this moment of sharing and conviviality?
The influence of potato
Also think of the impact of the potato. With its introduction, European societies were able to eat more easily during difficult periods, and its large nutritional capacity supported demographic growth of the time.
When history influences gastronomy
The history of discoveries is therefore not only a matter of territories and expeditions, it is intimately linked to our gastronomy. Who knows, without these daring explorers, we could still live in a world without chocolate! Isn’t that a terrifying perspective?
flavors traveling
This story reminds us that flavors travel, mix and transform. Cooking is not a frozen area, but an art in constant evolution, nourished by exchanges and discoveries.
cultivate the appetite of discovery
While we are in front of our stoves, take a moment to appreciate the richness of European cuisine. It is the fruit of countless trips and an inexhaustible appetite for discovery.
and who knows, maybe the next revolutionary ingredient is still waiting to be discovered in a remote corner of the planet. So what unexplored flavor would you like to discover?
