Aubergine

Like all the other foods we have discussed aubergines have a long and rich history. Europeans long referred to aubergines as the “mad apple” believing that this plant, native to modern day Pakistan and Southeast India, brought upon insanity in people. Yet few, in Spain and in Italy, believed the plant was an aphrodisiac and referred to the plant as the ‘apple of love.’ Unfortunately this nickname did not stick, and it took several hundred years before aubergines were accepted in the diets of Europeans.

Before people referred to the plant as the ‘mad apple’ or ‘apple of love’, its name derived from an old Sanskrit nickname, vatinganah. Which literally means, ‘fart go away,’ because the plant does not produce gas. Later the Persians adapted the word to badingan. The Arabs then added the article al-badingan. When the Arabic speaking Moors came to Spain, they introduced the plant to the locals. The Catalans, not realising that al was an article combined the two and came up with alberginia. Later the French changed it to what we know today as, aubergine. When aubergines made their way to England, the English first called the 'mad apple' eggplant because of its egg-like shape. They later switched to the French usage as their cuisine was being strongly influenced by the French.

Fun facts:

Even though aubergines are considered to be a vegetable, they are actually classified as a fruit.

Regardless of its classification, aubergines contain the highest amount of nicotine of all vegetables. But you would have to consume 20 pounds of aubergines to equal one cigarette.