[Sca-cooks] Pre-Columbian Foods

[Stefan li Rous]

> Sweet cherries are old world, new world cherries are small and tart.
> Likewise new world grapes, plums, and apples are small and tart or
> bitter.
> Large strawberries are new world.
Hmmm. I thought the large strawberries were a hybrid of New and Old 
World varieties. See:
strawberries-msg  (52K)  8/19/03    Period strawberries. Recipes.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-FRUITS/strawberries-msg.html
>
> Coconut is old world but spread to the new world before Columbus.
http://www.florilegium.org/files/FOOD-FRUITS/coconuts-msg.html

> Alegria is an amaranth candy.  The amaranth is new world, but I doubt
> it would be made into candy.
What is this? The ingredient or the candy. I don't think I've heard of 
or had either.
> I have not found any references to
> sugar used before Columbus, except for maple syrup.
Rather than "sugar" do you mean "sweeteners"?
> Honeybees are old world.
I seem to remember there was a New World ant that produced a sweet 
substance, which was used in a rather limited fashion.

> Old world foods include beef, sheep, goat, chicken, milk, cheese,
> butter, wheat, barley, grapes, citrus, olives, honey, sugar, garlic,
> onions, cilantro/coriander, cumin, ginger, radish, sesame, basil,
> banana, coffee, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, cinnamon, sugar cane,
> mango, melons, dates, mustard, spinach, carrot, turnip, peas, okra,
> tamarind
The Concord grape is New World.
> New World foods include bison, dog, iguana, wild pig, turkey, moscovy
> duck, rabbit, fish, shrimp, shellfish, eggs of duck and other birds,
> frogs, corn, beans, lima beans, zucchini, pumpkin and squash, potato,
> sweet potato, peanuts, tomatoes, tomatillos,  ground cherry (a
> relative of tomatillo, not a cherry), cacao (chocolate), vanilla,
> chilies, peppers, pineapple, sunflowers, jerusalem artichokes,
> strawberries, blueberries, cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, black
> raspberry, custard apple, papaya, guava, avocado, cashew, currant,
> gooseberry coconut, arrowroot, chayote, star fruit, brazil nuts,
> black walnuts, pecan, hazelnut, wild rice, allspice, crabapples, key
> lime
Part of the problem is whether someone is wanting foods that are 
exclusive to the New World or the Old World. There are a few where 
varieties where available in either hemisphere. Fish, shellfish, duck 
eggs (and ducks), beans, various berries and frogs come to mind.

Is there a type of rabbit native to the New World? Again, another item 
that may have had varieties in both hemispheres.
I thought peanuts were from Africa originally.
With currants, I guess there is some question as to what fruit is 
really meant, but there are a number of medieval manuscripts calling 
for currants, I thought.

Ssssafras is New World.
Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
    Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          
StefanliRous at austin.rr.com
**** See Stefan's Florilegium files at:  http://www.florilegium.org ****