The Potato: a global food

Few ingredients are as universal as potatoes. With different sizes, textures, and flavors, it is found in a wide variety of cuisines. How much do you know about the history and the different varieties of this food?

BY BERENICE GUTIÉRREZ

According to historical records, the first people to cultivate potatoes were the Incas of Peru in approximately 8,000 B.C. This ancient civilization used to measure time based on how long it took to cook a potato.

Potatoes arrived in Europe in the middle of the 16th century with Spanish conquistadors. Today, they can be grown in practically any part of the world. It is the fourth most important crop after rice, wheat, and corn.

In the United States, potatoes gained popularity thanks to President Thomas Jefferson, who served them to his guests at the White House. This contributed to their acceptance into the country’s aristocracy. Currently, 38 of the 50 American states produce this tuber.

In nutritional terms, no other crop comes close to the humble potato – it has almost all the important vitamins and nutrients except vitamins A and D. There are around five thousand potato varieties in the world, and more than half are found in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia.

This plant grows underground, and its flower buds indicate that the potato has begun to grow. The flowers are different colors depending on the strain of the potato crop. The largest potato in history was grown in England in 1974 and weighed almost 168 kilograms (370 pounds).

How to choose the perfect potato

1. 2.

Make sure there are no buds in the crevices.

Make sure it is completely smooth, without soft areas or cracks.

3. 4.

If the potato has a green hue, it was exposed to too much light and has probably developed toxins. It will also have a bitter flavor.

To clean a potato, scrub under cold running water to remove dirt and buds. You don’t have to peel them because the skin has vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

In 1995, the potato became the first vegetable grown in space, thanks to a collaboration between NASA and the University of Wisconsin.

Sources: “How the humble potato changed the world”, BBC., “Get to know the potato”, Potatoes USA., “Deja de tirar la piel de las patatas, tienen más beneficios para tu salud que el resto del tubérculo”, Business Insider