In what year did potatoes appear? Where did potatoes come from?

“French fries” are pieces of potato fried in a large amount of oil. More often, special utensils are used to prepare it - a deep fryer, without which it is difficult to imagine any eatery that serves this most popular dish.

The history of French fries has several versions. For example, in English-speaking countries this dish is called French potatoes or “French Fries”. However, French fries were not invented in France. It is believed that such potatoes were first prepared in Belgium at the end of the 17th century.

According to the inhabitants of Belgium, French fries, or as they call them “frits”, are one of their favorite dishes. national cuisine, was first prepared in the Meuse valley, near the town of Liege. The inhabitants of this valley often fried fish that they caught in the local river. Moreover, it was first cut into thin bars and then fried in a large amount of oil. However, in winter, when the river froze and there was no fish, the residents of the valley had to give up their favorite dish. And then the Belgians came up with the idea of ​​using potatoes instead of fish! The name frites came from an enterprising Belgian resident named Frite. It was he who first began selling potato slices fried in oil in 1861.

So where did the name “French potatoes” come from? This happened due to a fatal mistake. The fact is that during the First World War American soldiers first time trying this unusual dish thanks to his Belgian allies. A large number of Belgian soldiers were from the French-speaking part of Belgium. This is where “French style” was added to the potatoes.

The story of French fries doesn't end there. Fate gave potatoes a second chance in the middle of the last century, bringing them together with the railway. The train that carried the important one to Paris political figure, was delayed on the way, and the cooks serving the official dinner had to fry the potato slices a second time. The result spoke for itself: the potatoes became crispier and tastier. The most sophisticated way to prepare potatoes is to double fry them in olive oil.

If we talk about back side medals, or rather potatoes, then the enthusiasm here will diminish. The presence of chemical additives (pesticides and various stimulants) not only negatively affected the quality of the product, but also harmed the body. The use of pre-cooked and then frozen potatoes, as well as the repeated use of oil in which they were fried, ultimately led to a sharp deterioration of the product.

You may be surprised, but until the 18th century in Russia they had never even heard of such a tasty vegetable as potatoes. Homeland of potatoes - South America . The Indians were the first to eat potatoes. Moreover, they not only prepared dishes from it, but also worshiped it, considering it a living being. Where did potatoes come from in Russia?

First the potatoes(Solanum tuberosum) began to be grown in Europe. Moreover, initially, in the second half of the 16th century, it was mistaken for poisonous ornamental plant. But gradually the Europeans finally figured out that excellent dishes could be prepared from this strange plant. Since then, potatoes began to spread throughout the countries of the world. It was thanks to potatoes that hunger and scurvy were defeated in France. In Ireland, on the contrary, in the middle of the 19th century, mass famine began due to a poor potato harvest.

The appearance of potatoes in Russia is associated with Peter I. According to legend, the sovereign liked the potato dishes that Peter tried in Holland so much that he sent a bag of tubers to the capital to grow the vegetable in Russia. It was difficult for potatoes to take root in Russia. People called the incomprehensible vegetable the “damn apple”; eating it was considered a sin, and even under pain of hard labor they refused to grow it. In the 19th century, potato riots began to arise. And only after a significant period of time did potatoes enter into popular use.

In the first half of the 18th century, potatoes were prepared mainly only for foreigners and some noble people. For example, potatoes were often prepared for the table of Prince Biron.

Under Catherine II, a special decree “on the cultivation of earthen apples” was adopted. It was sent to all provinces along with detailed instructions for growing potatoes. This decree was issued as potatoes were already widely distributed in Europe. Compared to wheat and rye, potatoes were considered an unpretentious crop and were relied upon in the event of a grain harvest failure.

In 1813, it was noted that excellent potatoes were grown in Perm, which were eaten “boiled, baked, in porridges, in pies and shangs, in soups, in stews, and also in the form of flour for jelly.”

And yet, multiple poisonings due to improper use of potatoes led to the fact that the peasants did not trust the new vegetable for a very long time. However, gradually the tasty and satisfying vegetable was appreciated, and it replaced turnips from the peasants’ diet.

The state actively promoted the spread of potatoes. So, since 1835, every family in Krasnoyarsk was obliged to plant potatoes. For non-compliance, the perpetrators were sent to Belarus.

The area under potato plantings was constantly increasing, and governors were required to report to the government on the rate of increase in potato crops. In response, potato riots swept across Russia. Not only peasants, but also some educated Slavophiles, such as Princess Avdotya Golitsina, feared the new culture. She argued that potatoes “will spoil both Russian stomachs and morals, since Russians have been bread and porridge eaters from time immemorial.”

And yet the “potato revolution” during the time of Nicholas I was successful, and To early XIX century, potatoes became the “second bread” for Russians and became one of the main food products.

This vegetable will most likely take second place in terms of prevalence. Africa or America, Europe or Asia - regardless of the continent, people all over the world feast on it. We are so used to it that we no longer consider it something new, much less consider it a delicacy. We are talking about potatoes that have long been known to us. Let's remember the time when it was not yet so widespread, learn about some of the tragedies associated with its loss, and find out why it is still so valued in Russia. However, let's start from where it spread throughout the world. What became the birthplace of potatoes? Is it Europe or another place?

It has long been believed that potatoes came to us from the homeland of potatoes - Chile, Peru and Bolivia. Even today, in our time, in the Andes you can see how wildlife potatoes grow. There, at an altitude of more than a kilometer, you can find tubers of almost all known in the world. this moment varieties. According to scientists, in ancient times, Indians in that area could breed and cross varieties of various plants, including potatoes. The very first information about potatoes came from a Spaniard, a participant in the military campaign of Julian de Castellanos in 1535. According to him, even the Spaniards liked the mealy root vegetable of this plant. True, few people paid attention to his words. This is how we can briefly describe how the history of the origin of potatoes (its distribution) began.

How did the culture get to Europe?

We find the following description of potatoes in the Chronicle of Peru by Pedro Chiesa de Leone. He described this plant in great detail and clearly. The history of the appearance of potatoes interested the King of Spain, who gave the order to bring great amount this overseas product. Thus, thanks to Spain, the birthplace of potatoes - South America - supplied all of Europe with this vegetable. First he came to Italy, and subsequently to Belgium. After which the mayor of Mons (Belgium) gave several tubers for research to his friend and acquaintance in Vienna. And only his friend, also a botanist, described potatoes in detail in his work “On Plants.” Thanks to him, potatoes got their own scientific name - Solyanum tuberosum esculentum (tuberous nightshade). Over time, his description of potatoes and the very name of the garden crop became generally accepted.

In Ireland

The time had come for Ireland, and in the 1590s the potato arrived there. There he gained universal recognition due to the fact that he took root well even in relatively unfavorable conditions. Regardless of the climate, wet or dry, mild or changeable, regardless of whether the tubers were planted in fertile or infertile soil, potatoes bore fruit. Therefore, it spread so much that in the 1950s at least a third of the entire area suitable for agriculture was planted with potato crops. More than half of the harvest was used as food for people. Thus, potatoes began to be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everything would be fine, but what if there was a crop failure? What would the Irish eat in this case? They didn't want to think about it.

Consequences of crop failures

If in the past it happened that the potatoes did not bring the expected harvest, then some efforts were made to provide the necessary assistance to the victims. And if the next year it was again possible to collect the required amount of root crops, this covered the shortcomings of the previous period. So, in 1845 there was another crop failure. However, no one was concerned about the reasons for what happened. It must be said that at that time they still did not know much about late blight - because of which it was not possible to collect the required amount of vegetables. A fungus that attacks tubers leads to potato rotting both in the ground and even after harvesting from the fields. In addition, fungal spores of the disease are easily spread by airborne droplets. And due to the fact that only one variety of potatoes was planted in Ireland at that time, the entire crop quickly died. The same thing happened in the next few years, which led first to unemployment and then to famine in the country. This indirectly influenced the cholera outbreak, which in 1849 killed more than 36 thousand people. The history of potatoes with such an unfavorable turn of events led to the state losing more than a quarter of its population.

Potatoes: history of appearance in Russia

Gradually, the culture spread throughout Europe, as we saw in the example of Ireland, and at the very beginning of the eighteenth century it first appeared in Russia. In those years, Peter I was passing through Holland. There he had the opportunity to taste dishes made from potatoes (at that time, as today, they did not suspect that the birthplace of potatoes was South America). Having tasted the culinary innovation, the Russian sovereign noted the original taste of potato fruits. Since this delicacy was not yet available in Russia, he decided to send a bag of potatoes to his homeland. This is how the history of potatoes in Russia began.

In chernozem, as well as in moderately acidic soils, the new crop has taken root well. However simple people everyone still looked at this miracle vegetable with caution, because due to ignorance the right ways During its preparation, numerous cases of poisoning occurred. How can we ensure that the distribution of potatoes is widespread? Peter I was smart person and figured out what could be done for this. Tubers were planted in several fields, and guards were posted nearby, who served during the day but left the fields at night. This aroused great curiosity among ordinary peasants, and they began to steal a new vegetable at night, while no one was looking, and plant it in their fields. However, it still did not become widespread at that time. There were many who “managed” to poison themselves with its berries. Therefore, mostly ordinary people refused to grow the “damn apple”. For as long as 50-60 years, the miracle vegetable was forgotten in Russia.

How did potatoes become famous?

Later Catherine II played big role is that potatoes become generally accepted. However, the main impetus for the spread of root vegetables was the famine that occurred in the 1860s. It was then that we remembered everything that we had previously neglected, and were surprised to discover that potatoes have great taste and very nutritious. As they say, “there would be no happiness, but misfortune would help.”

Like this interesting story potatoes in Russia. So, over time, they began to plant throughout the country. People soon realized how useful a supply of this vegetable was, especially during times of crop failure. Until now, potatoes are considered the second bread, since, with sufficient supplies in the cellar, you can survive even in difficult times. Due to their calorie content and benefits, to this day the first thing planted in the garden is potato tubers.

Why are potatoes so popular in Russia?

Since the time of Peter I, people did not immediately learn about the chemical and nutritional value of this root vegetable for the human body. However, the history of potatoes shows that they contain substances necessary for survival in periods of famine, disease and misfortune. What is so valuable and useful in this ordinary root vegetable? It turns out that its proteins contain almost all the amino acids that we could find in plant foods. Three hundred grams of this vegetable is enough to meet the daily requirement of potassium, phosphorus and carbohydrates. Potatoes, especially fresh ones, are rich in vitamin C and fiber. Moreover, it also contains other elements necessary for life, such as iron, zinc, manganese, iodine, sodium and even calcium. And most of all useful substances It is contained precisely in potato peels, which today are very often not eaten. However, in times of famine, ordinary people did not neglect it and ate potatoes whole, baked or boiled.

Growing the only one and the consequences of it

As we have already learned, the birthplace of potatoes is South America. There, farmers acted wisely, breeding different varieties of root crops. So, only some of them were susceptible to the disease - fungal late blight. Therefore, even if such varieties died, this would not lead to such terrible disasters as in Ireland. The fact that in nature there are varieties of the same culture protects people from this kind of misfortune. However, if you grow only one variety of fruit, this can lead to what happened in Ireland. As well as the use of various chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which have a particularly adverse effect on natural cycles and the environment as a whole.

What are the benefits of growing only one variety of potato?

What, in this case, including in Russia, encourages farmers to grow only one specific variety of potato? This is mainly influenced by marketability and economic factors. Thus, farmers can bet on beautiful view fruits, which means greater demand among buyers. Also, the emergence of a standard crop can be explained by the fact that a certain variety of potato brings a greater yield in a particular area than others. However, as we have learned, this approach can have far-reaching adverse consequences.

The Colorado potato beetle is the main enemy of Russian gardeners

Insect pests can cause enormous damage to crops. One type of leaf beetle is very familiar to every gardener or farmer. For the first time in 1859, it was discovered how many difficulties this insect can bring to potato cultivation. And in the 1900s, the beetle reached Europe. When it was brought here by chance, it quickly covered the entire continent, including Russia. Due to its resistance to chemicals, which are used to combat it, this beetle is almost the main enemy of every gardener. Therefore, in order to get rid of this pest, in addition to chemicals, they began to use agricultural methods. And now in Russia, every summer resident who wants to enjoy home-fried or baked potatoes in the coals of a fire first has to become familiar with simple methods of combating this pest.

Potatoes were brought to Russia quite late, at the very beginning of the 18th century. This was done by Peter I, who first tried various potato dishes in Holland. Having approved gastronomic and taste qualities product, he ordered the delivery of a bag of tubers to Russia for planting and cultivation.

In Russia, potatoes took root very well, but Russian peasants were afraid of the unknown plant and often refused to grow it. This is where it starts very funny story, associated with the method of solving the problem that Peter I resorted to. The Tsar ordered the fields to be sown with potatoes and armed guards were assigned to them, who were supposed to guard the fields all day long and go to bed at night. The temptation was great; peasants from nearby villages could not resist and stole potatoes, which had become a sweet forbidden fruit for them, from the sown fields to plant on their plots.

At first, cases of potato poisoning were often recorded, but this was usually due to the inability of peasants to eat potatoes correctly. The peasants ate potato fruits, berries that resembled small tomatoes, which are known to be unsuitable for food and even poisonous.

Of course, this did not become an obstacle to the spread of potatoes in Russia, where it gained enormous popularity and many times saved a significant part of the population from starvation during grain crop failures. It’s not for nothing that in Rus' potatoes were called the second bread. And, of course, the name of the potato speaks very eloquently about its nutritional properties: it comes from the German words “Kraft Teufel”, which means “devilish power”.

“Potatoes have weak, unbalanced, uncertain energy, the energy of doubt. The body becomes sluggish, lazy, sour. The solid energy of potatoes is called starch, which is not amenable to alkaline-acid treatment in the body, is poorly excreted from the body, sharply reduces the speed of thought, blocks immune system. Potatoes cannot be combined with any products. If you have it, then separately, it is advisable to cook it in its uniform. In the peel and immediately underneath there is a substance that helps break down starch.

There were never potatoes in Rus'; they were brought by the “dark” and cultivated by force. Gradually, they brought it out and designated it in people’s thoughts as the main vegetable, which greatly harmed the human body. Today this is the most important vegetable product on the table, it is considered the second bread, and healthy vegetables have been relegated to the secondary category.

We ask you to under no circumstances eat potatoes to students of the School of Happiness, where everything is aimed at increasing the speed of thought, because potatoes will reduce everything to zero.
Potatoes can be eaten young for two months, after which they become poisonous. Replace potatoes with turnips. It is no coincidence that they are trying to completely remove turnips from food.”
(from the book “Knowledge stored by dolmens”, A. Savrasov)

Also for everyone who is interested healthy eating It is known that potatoes are a very mucus-forming product, and mucus is practically not removed from the body, but is deposited, causing many diseases (“traditional” medicine, of course, knows nothing about this)).

There was a time when Russian Old Believers considered potatoes a devilish temptation. Of course, this foreign root crop was forcibly introduced into Russian soil! The clergy, anathematizing it, dubbed it “the devil’s apple.” Saying a good word about potatoes, especially in print, was very risky. But today, many of our fellow citizens are sure that potatoes come from Russia, or at worst Belarus, and America gave the world only French fries.

Potatoes were first brought to Europe after the conquest of Peru by the Spaniards, who spread them throughout the Netherlands, Burgundy and Italy.

There is no exact information about the appearance of potatoes in Russia, but it is associated with the era of Peter the Great. At the end of the 17th century, Peter I (and again Peter I), while in the Netherlands on ship business, became interested in this plant, and “for brood” he sent a bag of tubers from Rotterdam to Count Sheremetyev. To speed up the spread of potatoes, the Senate considered the introduction of potatoes 23 TIMES in 1755-66 alone!

In the first half of the 18th century. Potatoes were grown in significant quantities by “particular people” (probably foreigners and people of the upper classes). Measures for the widespread cultivation of potatoes were first taken under Catherine II, at the initiative of the Medical College, whose president at that time was Baron Alexander Cherkasov. The matter was initially about finding funds to help the starving peasants of Finland “without great dependence.” On this matter, the medical board reported to the Senate in 1765 that The best way to prevent this disaster “consists in those earthen apples, which in England are called potetes, and in other places earthen pears, tartuffels and potatoes.”

At the same time, by order of the Empress, the Senate sent seeds to all parts of the empire and instructions on the development of potatoes and the care of this were entrusted to the governors. Under Paul I, it was also prescribed to grow potatoes not only in vegetable gardens, but also on field land. In 1811, three colonists were sent to the Arkhangelsk province with instructions to plant a certain number of acres of potatoes. All these measures were fragmentary; Potatoes were met with distrust by the mass of the population, and the crop was not grafted.

Only during the reign of Nicholas I, in view of what happened in 1839 and 1840. Due to the failure of the grain harvest in some provinces, the government took the most energetic measures to spread potato crops. The highest orders that followed in 1840 and 1842 decreed:

1) establish public potato crops in all state-owned villages to supply the peasants with this for future crops.
2) issue instructions on the cultivation, storage and consumption of potatoes.
3) encourage owners who excel in potato breeding with bonuses and other rewards.

The implementation of these measures was met with stubborn resistance from the population in many places.
Thus, in Irbitsky and neighboring districts of the Perm province of states, peasants somehow connected the idea of ​​selling them to landowners with the order for public potato planting. A potato riot broke out (1842), which was expressed in the beating of village authorities and required the assistance of military teams to pacify it, which in one volost were even forced to use grapeshot;

In terms of the number of peasants participating in it and the vastness of the region it covered, this is the largest of the Russian unrest of the 19th century, which entailed reprisals, which were distinguished by the cruelty usual at that time.

Interesting fact:
The owner of the estate, General R.O. Gerngros, growing tubers since 1817, also gave them to peasants for seeds. However, crops on peasant plots turned out to be sparse. It turned out that the peasants, having planted the tubers, dug up and sold the “damned earth apples” for vodka at night in the nearest tavern. Then the general resorted to a trick: he gave out cut tubers rather than whole ones for seeds. Their peasants did not choose from the land and reaped a good harvest, and having convinced themselves of the convenience of potatoes, they began to grow them themselves.

In general, those who needed and benefited from the Russian people degrading achieved their goal and potatoes became our second bread.

Potatoes were brought to Russia at the beginning of the 18th century. While Peter I was in Holland, he tried food made from potatoes and really liked it, after which the Tsar sent a bag of potatoes to Russia to grow.

Potato tubers grew well on Russian soil, but the spread was greatly hampered by the fact that the peasants were afraid of the overseas fruit. When Peter I was informed about the fear of the people, he had to use cunning. He sowed several fields with potatoes, and ordered guards with weapons to stand near them.

The soldiers guarded the potatoes all day and went to sleep at night. The peasants who lived nearby could not resist the temptation and began to steal potatoes and secretly plant them in their gardens.

Of course, at first there were cases of poisoning from potatoes, but only because people did not know the properties of this plant and tried its fruits without any warning. culinary processing. And potatoes in this form are not only inedible, but also poisonous.

Among aristocrats in France at one time it was common to wear potato flowers as decoration.

Thus, potatoes spread very quickly throughout Russia, also because they helped feed people during poor grain harvests. That is why potatoes were called the second bread. The nutritional properties of potatoes are indicated by its very name, which comes from the German phrase “Kraft Teufel”, which means devilish power.