EPISODE · Aug 16, 2026 · 18 MIN
Why Europe Was Terrified of the Tomato for 200 Years
from Roots Revealed · host Beans
Tomatoes are in our salads, our sauces, our sandwiches, and our soups. It's hard to imagine pizza without it, or a summer garden without a few tomato plants growing in the corner. But this wasn't always the case. For hundreds of years, the tomato was feared, avoided, and even blamed for killing people. It was called the "poison apple." It was linked to witchcraft. And in some places, it took over two hundred years before people were willing to put it on their plates.This is the story of how a small, sour, yellow fruit from the mountains of South America became one of the most beloved ingredients in the world. Episode artwork: 1909 Bolgiano's Tomato- sourced from Wikimedia commonsSupport the showJoin The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter____________________________________________________*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com***Podcast logo is designed by me_____________________________________________________Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected] Episode Details & WebsiteFind full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodesVisit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.orgRead strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
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Tomatoes are in our salads, our sauces, our sandwiches, and our soups. It's hard to imagine pizza without it, or a summer garden without a few tomato plants growing in the corner. But this wasn't always the case. For hundreds of years, the tomato was feared, avoided, and even blamed for killing people. It was called the "poison apple." It was linked to witchcraft. And in some places, it took over two hundred years before people were willing to put it on their plates. This is the story o...
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Why Europe Was Terrified of the Tomato for 200 Years
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