SC - Period Chili

[LrdRas at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/13/99 1:10:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, Varju at aol.com
writes:

<< when
 they introduced paprika?
 
 Noemi >>

When paprika was introduced. There are varying opinions and the introduction
of capsicums into the Midlle East was very swift.  introduction dates range
from 1501 thru the remainder of period. Hot peppers were most certainly
introduced almost immediately upon the return of Columbus from his second
voyage at the latest. Whether they were used for culinary purposes or not is
in doubt but there is evidence as was presented to the list by another that
they were used almost immediately for medicine. The Middle East adopted them
early in the 1500's and from there they seem to have  been introduced into
India, the Far East and Europe. With the Spanish and Portuguese colonies
rapidly growing in the NW during the late 1500's and early 1600's they entered
Africa through the slave trade.

Again this is not 'gospel' but this is how I personally make sence of the
various texts and records. Throughtout it all, there are no recipes that have
survided to give us a clue as to when they were used in more avant gard types
of cookery. It is as if suddenly they appeared very late or post period as a
common food ingredient. :-0

Ras

============================================================================

To be removed from the SCA-Cooks mailing list, please send a message to
Majordomo at Ansteorra.ORG with the message body of "unsubscribe SCA-Cooks".

============================================================================