A Brief History of Pickles: 5 Fascinating Facts
To say that without pickles, humanity would have found itself in a pickle; wouldn’t be an understatement. After all, when people couldn’t preserve food supplies and had to eat them fresh, they had little hope for lean times. The history of pickles takes us back nearly 4 millennia, to the Tigris valley in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq). People said the area’s gherkin farmers discovered how brine could preserve their products for the lean months. Needless to say, gherkins have played an important role in helping humanity expand its horizons.
How Pickles Made Exploration Possible: A Chapter in the History of Pickles
The ancient Mesopotamians were avid explorers, amongst the first in the world in fact. They carried pickled foods, like gherkins, meat and fish with them on their travels and shared their knowledge with everyone they encountered. From Mesopotamia to Persia, from there to Greece and from Greece to the rest of Europe. Pickling not only increased the shelf life of food, it furthered the possibility of exploration. Through the ages, people pickled produce, meat, and fish. Through the ages, the history of pickles has shaped modern commerce. How you may ask? Gherkins fueled the two most impactful voyages of discovery in history. Vasco Da Gama’s discovery of India in 1497, was all thanks to pickles, pickled fish and meat. So too was Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America in 1492. These were the beginning of modern trade as we know it today.
Tart Facts About Pickles: Insights into the History of Pickles
-
Jewish Delis in New York started the practise of serving pickled gherkins with sandwiches
Ever wondered how sliced gherkins found their way into sandwiches and burgers. Jewish immigrants opened the first delicatessens in and around New York which catered to primarily Jewish and other migrant workers. People first added pickles to sandwiches because they thought the vinegary liquid used for preservation served as both a palate cleanser and a digestive.
-
Pickles and royalty go back ages
Pickles and royalty seem to have a very unique relationship. Alexander the Great was so fond of pickles, he is said to have made it part of his troops’ rations. In Ptolemaic Egypt, Cleopatra is said to have claimed that pickled gherkins were the secret of her beauty. Great conquerors like Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte seemed to think that pickled gherkins gave their soldiers strength. In fact Bonaparte even offered a reward of 12,000 francs to anyone who could help improve the storage of pickles.
-
Pickle the word has Nordic origins
The word pickle is derived from the North German / Scandinavian root ‘pekel’ meaning salt or brine solution.
-
America was discovered by a pickle salesman
Amerigo Vespucci, the man who first discovered the Americas (Christopher Columbus originally went looking for India), was a pickle salesman. He would provide pickled goods including vegetables and meats to the sailors at ports around Europe. In a strange sort of tribute then it is fitting that Americans are the foremost consumers of pickles in the world. Rough estimates put their pickle consumption at nearly 10 pounds per capita.
-
Pickles were held in high esteem in the Middle East
From the Mesopotamians, to the Persians and later the Ottomans, Bedouin and Berbers, pickles were held in high esteem. The Mesopotamians invented the pickling process 4400 years ago and from then, pickles became a very important part of the Middle Eastern diet. Some stories even say that Saladin, the great Muslim conqueror and hero of the Crusades, credited pickles for his vigour and health.
Pickles are an amazing food and add a punch and tartness to some of our favourite dishes. Explore the rich history of pickles with the world-class range of Hugo Reitzel products
Out of stock
Hugo Reitzel Gherkin in Vinegar (American Style Sandwich Stackers), 350g
Original price was: ₹165.00.₹99.00Current price is: ₹99.00. Read more
Hugo Reitzel Gherkins with Chilli, 350g
Original price was: ₹155.00.₹116.00Current price is: ₹116.00. Add to cartOut of stock
Hugo Reitzel Sliced Gherkins, 2.96 kg
Original price was: ₹495.00.₹371.00Current price is: ₹371.00. Read more
Hugo Reitzel Sliced Jalapenos | Taste Great with Many ways, Use in American & Mexican Cusinies, Burrito, Tacos, Casserole and Pizza, burger and Sandwich
₹195.00 – ₹526.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
