Its origin is considered to be India where it continues to grow wild. This spiny, bitter, orange, pea-sized fruit has been cultivated throughout India and China for more than 1500 years. As trade routes opened, eggplant was introduced to Europe by the Arabs and transported to Africa by the Persians.
Where do wild eggplants grow?
Wild eggplants occur on all continents except for Antarctica and can be found in a wide variety of habitats from deserts to mountain slopes, particularly throughout Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
Where can eggplants be found?
Eggplant (US, Canada, Australia), aubergine (UK, Ireland) or brinjal (Indian subcontinent, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa) is a plant species in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Solanum melongena is grown worldwide for its edible fruit.
| Eggplant | |
|---|---|
| Species: | S. melongena |
| Binomial name | |
| Solanum melongena L. | |
| Synonyms |
Where does most eggplant come from?
Production by country
| Rank | Country/region | 2016 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 32,476,992 |
| 2 | India | 12,515,000 |
| 3 | Egypt | 1,300,265 |
| 4 | Turkey | 854,049 |
Is eggplant native to North America?
Eggplants originated in China and India and have been cultivated there for thousands of years. The Spanish Moors introduced the eggplant into southern and Eastern Europe where it became very popular. The early explorers of the New World introduced eggplant into the Americas in the 1500s, but the plant never caught on.
Why is eggplant not good for you?
Eggplants are part of the nightshade family. Nightshades contain alkaloids, including solanine, which can be toxic. Solanine protects these plants while they are still developing. Eating the leaves or tubers of these plants can lead to symptoms such as burning in the throat, nausea and vomiting, and heart arrhythmias.
Is eggplant toxic?
Because eggplants belong to the nightshade family, they contain an alkaloid called solanine, which can be toxic if consumed in large amounts. Eating the leaves and tubers of nightshade plants can be fatal, as there are large amounts of the alkaloid in parts of the plant that are not normally consumed.
What country eats the most eggplant?
China
China (34M tonnes) constituted the country with the largest volume of eggplant consumption, accounting for 67% of total volume.
How did the eggplant evolve naturally?
The team found that the group containing the relatives of the aubergine originated in northeastern Africa some two million years ago. Plants then dispersed eastwards to tropical Asia, and to southern and western Africa. In Asia, the dispersal gave rise to a species that scientists call Solanum insanum.
Can you eat eggplant raw?
Can You Eat Eggplant Raw? Luckily, the answer is yes! While the leaves and flowers can be toxic, the eggplant itself is safe to consume both raw and cooked, and the compound that some might be sensitive to, solanine, is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.
Where is the eggplant capital of the world?
Did you know that New Jersey grows about 66 percent of the world’s eggplants? It’s true! The majority of eggplant production is located in South Jersey, especially Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem and Atlantic counties, and smaller production sites are also located in Monmouth and Burlington counties.
Is bitter eggplant toxic?
The good news is that you can eat bitter eggplant. It’s safe to eat them but… do you really want to? Bitter eggplants are usually overripe, old, or quite possibly starting to rot. So although it is okay to eat them, they won’t taste very good.
How many years does an eggplant live?
Most eggplant cultivars are grown as annuals and thus live for only a single year. In such cases, the plants die immediately after harvesting the eggplant fruits. Eggplant can be grown as a perennial, in which case it will live for about 3 years but this is uncommon.
Why are eggplants called egg?
Those plants flowered and grew small white and oval fruits that looked just like chicken eggs. British gardeners named these “egg-plants” for their attractive appearance on plants they entered in competitions.
Is eggplant a laxative?
Helps digestion– Eggplant is rich in fiber so it helps control your blood sugars and lower the risk of heart disease. Eggplants are often referred to as a natural laxative, helping to relieve constipation.
Is eggplant anti inflammatory?
Eggplant
Eggplant isn’t high in any one vitamin or mineral, but it contains small amounts of most essential vitamins and minerals. According to one 2015 study, eggplant stalk extract may help reduce inflammation.
Is eggplant good for arthritis?
Some people with arthritis swear that nightshade vegetables — such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers — cause their arthritis to flare. While there aren’t any studies to support a link between arthritis pain and most nightshades, tomatoes may be an exception. That’s because they raise levels of uric acid.
What vegetable is poisonous if eaten raw?
Eggplant. Approach raw eggplant with caution. Raw eggplant contains solanine, the same toxin that makes raw potatoes problematic. “Young eggplants” in particular, or eggplants that were harvested early in their plant lives, contain the most of this toxin.
Is eggplant good for diabetes?
Eggplants fit well into current dietary recommendations for controlling diabetes, which include a high-fiber diet rich in whole grains and vegetables ( 15 ).
Do you eat eggplant skin?
While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled.
What is the biggest eggplant in the world?
3.12 kg
The heaviest aubergine (Solanum melongena) weighed 3.12 kg (6 lb 14 oz) and was grown by Peter Glazebrook (UK) for entry in the CANNA UK National Giant Vegetables Championships, held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire, UK, on 23 September 2021.
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