Uncover The Delicious Journey of Tomatoes In Italian Culture

Over the years, Italy has evolved a diverse cuisine culture that covers many regions throughout the gorgeous European nation. Many of its dishes famous all over the world reflect its rich heritage and let foodies understand how Italy developed to become a center of diverse food and culture.

When people talk about the finest tomato sauce, they think of Italian tomato. There are many foods from the region, including its famous pizza, that are incomplete without its famous tomato sauce. How did tomatoes get a special place in Italian cuisine?

• History of Tomato

Many people have a hunch that Italy is the birthplace of tomatoes. The assumption is backed by the best canned plum tomatoes from Italy that people receive at their doorstep today. However, the Spanish Conquistadors discovered the first tomato. According to many historians, the Andes mountains of Peru was the origin place. After that, its popularity grew to South and Central America, and then Mexico.

However, tomatoes became popular in Europe before they were added by North Americans in their list of edibles. It was the appeal of tomatoes that stopped North Americans from consuming them. They thought the plant is harmful, thanks to its close connection with toxic Nightshade.

A long time before plum tomatoes became a part of Italian cuisine, they were thought to be toxic in Europe. It is believed that people took around two centuries to accept that tomatoes aren’t harmful and can be consumed.

• Who Called Them ‘Tomatoes’?

‘Tomato’ came from xitomatl. When Europeans were introduced to the plant, they started to call it ‘tomatl’. People in France called it ‘pomme d’amour’ before naming it ‘la tomate’. For Italians, it was ‘pomi d’oro’, which means golden apple. As per Italian culture, pomi d’oro was first introduced in 1548.

• Italy And Tomatoes

Today, tomatoes come in many types and colors, including golden yellow and cherry tomatoes. They are extremely popular in Italy, but their journey to become an important menu item took a long time after their introduction to the region. According to historians, tomatoes had a long test of 200 years before it became an Italian treasure. By the late 1700s, they were used by Italians to add an exciting taste to their breads, which are modern-day pizzas.

The first-time use of tomatoes to make sauces dates back to the 1800s. They were being used for pastas. In 1889, when Italy was declared one nation, Queen Margherita wanted to get rid of the boring French cuisine. This was the time when she called Raffaele Esposito, a renowned pizza maker of that era, to make pizza for her. He made three pizzas for her, including one that he prepared using mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil leaves. The queen loved the pizza, and this was the time when Pizza Margherita came into existence.

• Tomatoes In The Modern World

Tomatoes have a long yet interesting history. Humans took a long time before accepting tomatoes and giving them a place in the list of edibles. Today, there are more than 7,000 tomato versions that have been grown and used for many purposes. They come in many types, sizes, and colors. San Marzano canned tomatoes are a variety of plum tomato known for their attributes.

Apart from tomatoes, there is an extensive range of tomato sauces to prepare various kinds of dishes. Due to the tomato diversity in Italy, many worldwide purchase tomatoes unpeeled in water. They make remarkable ingredients to prepare various kinds of sauces and soups.

Conclusion

Today, Tomatoes are an essential part of Italian cuisine. There are various kinds of Italian tomato products in the market right now. Those who want to experience the rich and authentic taste of Italian tomatoes can buy Italian tomato from a reputed online store of Italian items. The store will have high-quality products prepared by trusted brands in Italy. Get only the ‘made in Italy’ products to taste the authentic taste of the region.