The Strange History of 'Love Apples' - aka Tomatoes
Tomatos were once referred to as "love apples." This is because their was a superstition that people would fall in love by
eating them.
The plant we know today as the tomato, is thought to have originated in Peru, and "migrated" to Mexico where they
started to cultivate it around 700B.C. Records of a tomato, squash seed and chillies dish, may be the first salsa recipe.
The "fruit" (scientifically speaking, that's what it qualifies as) was discovered and taken back to Europe by conquistadors.
At that time, it wasn't the brilliant red globe that you find in the grocer's. Their apple, or "pomi d'oro" as it was termed in
Italy, was literally translated "golden apple". When the red varieties appeared, nobody is certain, but it was cultivated in
England, as early as 1554, although as a decorative ornamental. Because the English were convinced that it was
poisonous. On the other hand, the French enjoyed the rich, juicy, succulent fruit so much, they called it the "pomme
d'amour", or apple of love, the superstition being that those who ate it, fell in love. But the English weren't having any of
that nonsense.
The erroneous belief about its edibility followed the tomato to America, even though it was widely known to be used in
cuisine throughout Europe. Not until grower Robert Gibbon Johnson announced he would eat a whole bushel to prove they
were perfectly fit food, did the "civilized" world cave in. Not only did Johnson complete his feat, (much to the
disappointment of a crowd of thousands), he went on to promote its cultivation and popularity in the new country of
America.
But even though superstition called it the "love apple", is the tomato really a fruit? Scientists say yes, because it is the
"fruit" of a vine. On the other hand, the U.S. Supreme Court said "no", in 1887 when it was called into question under the
tariff act, which taxed all vegetables. They determined that "Botanically speaking tomatoes are the fruit of the vine, just
as are cucumbers, squashes, beans and peas. But in the common language of the people, all these are vegetables, which
are
grown in kitchen gardens and are usually served at dinner in, with or
after the soup, fish or meats and not, like fruits generally, as
dessert".
Tomatos were once referred to as "love apples." This is because their was a superstition that people would fall in love by
eating them.
The plant we know today as the tomato, is thought to have originated in Peru, and "migrated" to Mexico where they
started to cultivate it around 700B.C. Records of a tomato, squash seed and chillies dish, may be the first salsa recipe.
The "fruit" (scientifically speaking, that's what it qualifies as) was discovered and taken back to Europe by conquistadors.
At that time, it wasn't the brilliant red globe that you find in the grocer's. Their apple, or "pomi d'oro" as it was termed in
Italy, was literally translated "golden apple". When the red varieties appeared, nobody is certain, but it was cultivated in
England, as early as 1554, although as a decorative ornamental. Because the English were convinced that it was
poisonous. On the other hand, the French enjoyed the rich, juicy, succulent fruit so much, they called it the "pomme
d'amour", or apple of love, the superstition being that those who ate it, fell in love. But the English weren't having any of
that nonsense.
The erroneous belief about its edibility followed the tomato to America, even though it was widely known to be used in
cuisine throughout Europe. Not until grower Robert Gibbon Johnson announced he would eat a whole bushel to prove they
were perfectly fit food, did the "civilized" world cave in. Not only did Johnson complete his feat, (much to the
disappointment of a crowd of thousands), he went on to promote its cultivation and popularity in the new country of
America.
But even though superstition called it the "love apple", is the tomato really a fruit? Scientists say yes, because it is the
"fruit" of a vine. On the other hand, the U.S. Supreme Court said "no", in 1887 when it was called into question under the
tariff act, which taxed all vegetables. They determined that "Botanically speaking tomatoes are the fruit of the vine, just
as are cucumbers, squashes, beans and peas. But in the common language of the people, all these are vegetables, which
are
grown in kitchen gardens and are usually served at dinner in, with or
after the soup, fish or meats and not, like fruits generally, as
dessert".