by FruitADMINHow the so-called “devil’s berry” became the “second bread” of mankind
The history of the most distinctive vegetable began 14 thousand years ago. Potato Culture the South American Indians have preserved mankind from the vicinity of Lake Titicaca. The plant became an agricultural crop only five thousand years later and today is considered to be home to Chile, Bolivia and Peru. However, the word “potato” is not related to its homeland South America. The name comes from “Tartufol”, which means “truffle” in Italian. It was the Europeans who first tasted South American vegetables in the world. In the 16th century, geographer Pedro Ciesa de Leon brought potatoes to Spain and later described their nutritional properties and taste.
Nevertheless, in France until the 17th century, it was called the food of the poor, while in Germany the population refused to cultivate this crop because they tasted berries instead of tubers and were massively poisoned. These factors led to a “conspiracy” against a completely harmless, useful and vitamin-rich potato – Europeans have long called it the undeservedly “devil’s berry”. In Germany, they even tried to destroy its culture, but over time, the potato gained universal recognition and the status of the “second bread” of mankind. This happened in the 18th century when this unique plant saved people from starvation during wars. It was from this time that active consumption of potatoes began.
Potato crops in Georgia are mentioned in the 1787 letter of King Solomon II of Imereti. From the 1820s, potato crops appeared near Tbilisi, and in 1975, its sowing area exceeded 28,000 hectares. At present, potatoes are sown in Georgia in Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe, Tsalka, Dmanisi, Bolnisi, Tetritskaro, Khulo and Shuakhevi municipalities. The plant also grows in mountainous regions – Ninotsminda, Svaneti and Racha. Widespread varieties of potatoes in Georgia are Mazhestic, Trialeti Folk, Lorkhi and Epic.
