Tomatoes were Considered Sinful – Until the Salem Tomato Trial of 1820
submited by
Style Pass
The most controversial thing about a tomato today is whether it’s a vegetable or a fruit. Yet things weren’t always like that. As recently as 200 years ago tomatoes were associated not only with sin, but also an obstacle to salvation.
While opinion varies on how exactly humankind encountered the juicy mealtime staple, it’s believed the relationship originated in historic Mesoamerica. The word tomato “comes from the Uto-Aztecan Nahuatl word, ‘tomatl,’ which means ‘the swelling fruit’” according to an article on the History Channel website.
It was an ingredient for peoples such as the Aztecs, but the idea of it being fit for consumption by European and other cultures took some time to catch on.
In fact you were more likely to see the tomato as part of an ornamental display rather than a tasty treat. Look but don’t touch. But why was this? The answer lies partly in the eating habits of rich Europeans.
At first, while they believed the tomato to be edible, it was grown only to enjoy its beauty as a garden plant. A 2013 piece for Smithsonian.com wrote, “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.”
Read more thevintagene...
