Today we will open the curtain on the question: Who was the first to bring potatoes to Russia? It is known that in South America, Indians have successfully cultivated potatoes since time immemorial. This root vegetable was brought to Europe by the Spaniards in the middle of the 16th century. There is no reliable information about when exactly this vegetable appeared in Rus', but researchers note that this event is more likely associated with the Peter the Great period. At the end of the 17th century, Peter I, visiting Holland, was interested in this unusual plant. Having spoken approvingly of the taste and nutritional properties of the tuber, he ordered the delivery of a bag of seeds to Count Sheremetyev in Russia for breeding.
Distribution of potatoes in Moscow
In the capital of Russia, the vegetable took root slowly; at first, the peasants distrusted the foreign product and refused to cultivate it. In those days there was an interesting story related to the solution to this problem. The king ordered potatoes to be planted in the fields and protected, but only during the daytime, and at night the fields were deliberately left unattended. The peasants of the adjacent villages could not resist the temptation and began to steal tubers from the fields, first for food, and then for sowing.
At first, cases of potato poisoning were often reported, but this was due to the ignorance of ordinary people on how to properly use this product. The peasants ate potato berries, which are very similar to green tomatoes, but unsuitable for human food and very poisonous. Also, from improper storage, for example in the sun, the tuber began to turn green, solanine was formed in it, and this is a poisonous toxin. All these reasons led to poisoning.
Also, the Old Believers, of whom there were a great many, considered this vegetable a devilish temptation; their preachers did not allow their coreligionists to plant it or. And church ministers anathematized the root crop and dubbed it the “devil’s apple,” because Translated from German, “Kraft Teufels” means “devil’s power.”
Due to all of the above factors, Peter I’s excellent idea of distributing this root crop throughout mother Russia was not implemented. As historians say, the king’s decree on the widespread dissemination of this crop aroused the indignation of the people, forcing the monarch to listen and retreat from the “potatoization” of the country.
Introduction of potatoes
Measures for the large-scale promotion of potatoes everywhere were launched by Empress Catherine II. In 1765, more than 464 pounds of root crops were purchased from Ireland and delivered to the Russian capital. The Senate delivered these tubers and instructions to all corners of the Empire. It was also intended to cultivate potatoes not only on public field lands, but also in vegetable gardens.
In 1811 Three settlers were sent to the Arkhangelsk province with the task of planting a certain amount of land. But all the implementation measures taken did not have a clearly planned system, so the population greeted potatoes with suspicion, and the crop did not take root.
Only under Nicholas I, due to the low grain harvest, did some volosts begin to take more decisive measures to cultivate tuber crops. In 1841 A decree was issued by the authorities, which ordered:
- acquire public crops in all settlements to provide peasants with seeds;
- publish guidelines on the cultivation, preservation and consumption of potatoes;
- award prizes to those who have especially distinguished themselves in the cultivation of crops.
People's revolt
The implementation of these measures encountered popular resistance in many counties. In 1842 A potato riot broke out, which manifested itself in the beating of local authorities. To pacify the rioters, government troops were brought in, who destroyed the unrest of the people with particular cruelty. For a long time, turnips were the main food product for people. But little by little attention to potatoes returned. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that this vegetable became widely known and many times saved people from starvation during lean years. It is no coincidence that potatoes were nicknamed “second bread”.
“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,” which is one of the favorite dishes of their national cuisine, were 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 tried this unusual dish for the first time thanks to their Belgian allies. A large number of Belgian soldiers came 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 carrying an important political figure to Paris was delayed, 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 the other side of the coin, or rather the potato, 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. The homeland of potatoes is 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 a 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 By the beginning of the 19th century, potatoes became “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 potatoes growing in the wild. There, at an altitude of more than a kilometer, you can find tubers of almost all currently known 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 a huge amount of 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 later 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, ordinary people still looked at this miracle vegetable with caution, since due to ignorance of the correct methods of preparing it, numerous cases of poisoning occurred. How can we ensure that the distribution of potatoes is widespread? Peter I was a smart man 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 a big role in making potatoes universally 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 an excellent taste and are very nutritious. As they say, “there would be no happiness, but misfortune would help.”
This is the interesting history of 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. Moreover, the most useful substances are contained 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 the beautiful appearance of the fruit, 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. Every gardener or farmer is very familiar with one type of leaf beetle - it was first discovered in 1859 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 the chemicals that 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.
History of potatoes. How potatoes appeared in Russia
The name potato comes from the Italian word truffle and the Latin terratuber - earthen cone.
WITH potato related many interesting stories. They say that in the 16th century, a certain admiral of the English army brought an unknown vegetable from America, with which he decided to surprise his friends. A knowledgeable cook mistakenly fried not potatoes, but tops. Of course, no one liked the dish. The angry admiral gave the order to destroy the remaining bushes by burning. The order was carried out, after which baked potatoes were found in the ash. Without hesitation, the baked potato arrived on the table. The taste was appreciated and everyone liked it. Thus, the potato gained its recognition in England.
In France, at the beginning of the 18th century, potato flowers decorated the vest of the king himself, and the queen decorated her hair with them. So potato dishes were served to the king every day. True, the peasants had to be accustomed to this culture by cunning. When the potatoes arrived, guards were placed around the fields. Thinking that they were protecting something valuable, the peasants quietly dug up potatoes, boiled them and ate them.
In Russia potatoes took root not so easy and simple. The peasants considered it a sin to eat devil’s apples brought from nowhere, and even under pain of hard labor they refused to breed them. In the 19th century, so-called potato riots occurred. Quite a long time passed before people realized that potatoes are tasty and nutritious.
This the vegetable is used for preparing appetizers, salads, soups and main courses. Potatoes contain proteins, carbohydrates, potassium, ballast substances, vitamins A, B1, c. There are 70 calories in 100 g of potatoes.
About a couple of thousand years before the human era, wild potatoes played an important role in the life of the first inhabitants of the Andes. The dish, which saved entire settlements from starvation, was called “chuño” and was prepared from frozen and then dried wild potatoes. In the Andes, until this time, the Indians cherish the proverb: “Jerky meat without chunyo is equivalent to life without love.” The dish was also used as a unit of exchange in trade, since “chuño” was exchanged for beans, beans, and corn. "Chunyo" was distinguished by two types - white ("tunta") and black. The recipe for “chuño” is something like this: potatoes were laid out in the rain and left to soak for 24 hours. Once the potatoes were sufficiently wet, they were laid out to dry in the hot sun. To get rid of moisture as quickly as possible, after thawing, the potatoes were laid out in a place that was blown by the wind and carefully trampled underfoot. To help peel the potatoes better, they were placed between special crumpled skins. When black “chunyo” was prepared, the potatoes, peeled using the method described above, were washed with water, and when “tunta” was prepared, the potatoes were dipped into a pond for several weeks, after which they were left in the sun for final drying. “Tunta” retained the shape of a potato and was very light.
After this treatment, wild potatoes lost their bitter taste and were preserved for a long time. If you want to enjoy wild potatoes, the recipe is still valid today.
In Europe, potatoes found it difficult to take root. Despite the fact that the Spaniards were the first Europeans to become acquainted with this crop, Spain was one of the last countries in Europe to truly appreciate the vegetable. In France, the first mention of potato processing dates back to 1600. The English first experimented with planting potatoes back in 1589.
Potatoes to Russia came through the Baltic port, directly from Prussia around 1757-1761. The first official import of potatoes was associated with the foreign travel of Peter I. He sent a bag of potatoes from Rotterdam for Sheremetyev and ordered the potatoes to be scattered throughout various regions of Russia. Unfortunately, this attempt was unsuccessful. Only under Catherine II was an order issued to send so-called earthen apples to all parts of Russia for brood, and already 15 years later potatoes were in the territory, reaching Siberia and even Kamchatka. However, the introduction of potatoes into peasant farming was accompanied by scandals and cruel administrative penalties. Cases of poisoning were observed because it was not potatoes that were eaten, but green poisonous berries. Conspiracies against potatoes were intensified even by the name itself, since many heard “Kraft Teufels,” which translates from German as “damn power.” To increase the rate of potato consumption, peasants were sent special instructions on breeding and consuming “earth apples,” which gave a positive result. Beginning in 1840, the acreage for potatoes began to increase rapidly, and soon, after decades, the variety of potatoes reached more than a thousand varieties.
