who discovered potatoes
Potatoes weren't "discovered" by a single person like a dramatic explorer tale from a movie. Indigenous peoples of the Andes, particularly the Inca civilization, domesticated them around 8000–5000 BC from wild varieties in modern-day Peru and Bolivia.
Potato Origins
Wild potatoes grew naturally in the high Andes mountains of South America. The Inca people began cultivating them thousands of years ago, experimenting with cooking methods like roasting in fire embers, which evolved into staples like chuño (freeze-dried potatoes).
By the time Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 1530s, potatoes were a dietary cornerstone for Incas, used in religious ceremonies and as everyday food.
Key domestication facts:
- Timeframe : 8000–5000 BC in Andean highlands.
- Early uses : Food, plant cover, rituals before full food adoption.
- Processing innovations : Incas developed chuño to store potatoes for years, aiding survival in harsh climates.
Journey to Europe
No individual "discovered" potatoes for the world—they spread via Spanish explorers post-Columbus. In 1535–1570, Spaniards like Pizarro brought them from Peru to Europe, initially as animal fodder or curiosity.
Common myths credit Sir Walter Raleigh or Thomas Harriot with introducing them to England around 1586 from Virginia (though they likely came via Colombia or Spain). Sir Francis Drake is another contender for early English spread.
Introduction timelines:
- 1535 : Spaniards to Spain from Peru.
- 1586 : Harriot/Raleigh to England/Ireland.
- Late 1500s : Carolus Clusius notes them in Italy/Low Countries for fodder.
Myths and Legends
The "Raleigh legend" persists: He supposedly planted them secretly on his Irish estate, guarding the field to spark curiosity—peasants dug them up, spreading the crop. Reality? Raleigh popularized them in Ireland, boosting yields over grain.
French figure Antoine Parmentier (1700s) championed potatoes amid famine skepticism, hosting potato feasts for elites and learning from Belgian peasants.
Fun twist: No one "invented" potatoes—Philomena Cunk's quip ("Did Raleigh invent them?") highlights how myths overshadow Indigenous innovation.
Modern Impact
Potatoes fueled Europe's population boom, outyielding grain (no stalk collapse limits). Today, they're the world's fourth-largest crop, with ongoing breeding for resilience.
TL;DR : Incas domesticated potatoes millennia ago; Europeans like Harriot/Raleigh popularized them—no lone hero.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
