Origins of the Tomato and the Potato

The tomato is native to South America and was cultivated from there to North America before the discovery of the continent in 1492, now known as America. The Aztec language was used by traders bringing goods from South America to what is now the U.S. In Mexico, the word tomatl simply means “swollen fruit.” Like many other words ending in -atl, from the Nahuatl (Aztec) language, it means “water.” The word “tomato” comes from tomatl or tomohuac, which means “fat.” So, tomato means “fat water.”

Since the Spanish had difficulty pronouncing the -atl ending in many Aztec words, they called it “tomato.” The tomato, along with other essential crops, was cultivated by the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs. These included:

• Maize (corn)
• Beans
• Squash
• Chilies and sweet potatoes

Whether grown individually or together, these crops have a long history in the Americas. The development of this agricultural knowledge took place over 5,000–6,500 years, and squash was domesticated between 8,000–10,000 years ago. While the tomato is considered a vegetable due to its many culinary uses, it is, in fact, a fruit belonging to the potato, pepper, and eggplant family.

Tomatoes Are an Excellent Fruit

Tomatoes are an excellent fruit for a quick, nutritious, and healthy snack — also an ideal ingredient for creative recipes.

The tomato, potato, maize, chilies, beans, and squash were introduced to Spain and the rest of Europe at the beginning of the 16th century.

Tomatoes first arrived at the court of Queen Isabella in Madrid, and later were traded in Seville, one of the main centers of international trade, predominantly with Italy and France. It was in 1544 that the Italian herbalist Matthioli introduced his knowledge of the tomato to Italy (“pomodoro”). Tomatoes were even given aphrodisiac properties in France, where they were called “pomme d’amour” — “love apple.”

The first known published Neapolitan recipe for “Spanish-style tomato sauce” dates back to 1692.

The Spread of the Potato

The potato was cultivated between 8000 and 5000 BC in a region that includes southern Peru and Bolivia. From there, it spread throughout the Americas and was widely cultivated by the Aztecs and Mayans in Mexico. The Spanish took it to Europe, and it has since become a staple food across much of the world.

The Tomato’s Global Popularity

The tomato became — and remains — one of the most popular foods in the modern world, due to its versatility and its ability to combine well with:

• Cheese
• Eggs
• Fish
• Meat
• Vegetables
• A wide variety of aromatic herbs

Tomatoes are highly nutritious and low in calories. They contain large amounts of vitamin C and folic acid and are the most critical food source of a red pigment called lycopene, which has antioxidant properties and may help reduce the risk of prostate and other cancers.

Some important health facts about tomatoes:

• High lycopene levels in the blood are associated with a lower rate of several cancers, especially prostate cancer.
• Blood plasma absorbs lycopene better from cooked tomato products than from raw tomatoes.
• Similarly, lycopene from heat-processed tomato juice is more bioavailable than that from raw juice.

The Three Sisters

The Aztecs learned from the Toltecs and Olmecs how to cultivate efficient mixed crops, producing nutritious vegetables through what is now known as companion planting — the Three Sisters agricultural method:

• Maize (Zea mays)
• Beans (Phaseolus sp.)
• Squash (Cucurbita pepo)

These three crops were planted close together. Maize and beans were often planted in mounds formed by hilling soil around the base each year. The system worked synergistically:

• The cornstalk served as a trellis for the beans to climb.
• The beans replenished nitrogen in the soil.
• The broad leaves of the squash shaded the ground, helping retain moisture and prevent weeds.

I have often wondered what people around the world ate before the Spanish introduced the Aztec crops of tomato, potato, corn, and squash to Europe and beyond. I smile when the Irish think the potato is from Ireland or when Italians think the tomato is from Italy!