Whether fun or weird, outrageous or interesting, it is always an experience getting to know some facts about the foods we eat, and today’s food facts are sure to leave your jaw dropping. Hopefully you’ll be able to pick up your jaw by the time you’re done reading; we can’t have any insects fly into them now, can we?
Check out this list of 10 food facts you’re sure going to find interesting;
There is a chili pepper in the world that is so hot it could kill you.
This particular chili pepper is known as the Dragon’s Breath chili pepper. This “weapon grade” pepper is so hot that it is downright deadly, no pun intended. If you ate one, it could potentially cause a type of anaphylactic shock, burning the airways and closing them up.
“I’ve tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and burned,” said Mike Smith, the hobby grower who invented the Dragon’s Breath along with scientists from Nottingham University. So why make such an impractical pepper? As it turns out, the chili was initially developed to be used in medical treatment as an anesthetic that can numb the skin. Ermmmm!!! I don’t think we’d be having any of that pepper any time soon; nor will you?
California is home to the “Artichoke Capital of the World.”
Castroville is a rural town in California that grows a lot of artichokes (and other vegetable crops), thanks to the fact that the area enjoys ideal weather year round. Because of this, it grows 99.9 percent of all commercially grown artichokes and has even been nicknamed the “Artichoke Capital of the World” – one more reason to add California to your bucket list, besides the Hollywood film industry of course.
Tea bags were created accidentally
It is no news that the Brits are famous for their tea obsession, but you’d be shocked to know that it was an American who ultimately revolutionized the leafy drink. New Yorker Thomas Sullivan is credited with creating tea bags. He would send samples of the product in silk bags and people started to throw them into the teapot. And, that’s how tea bags came to be. The rest is history.
The world’s most expensive ice cream sundae
Talk about a jaw dropper; the most expensive ice cream sundae can be found at Serendipity 3 in New York City. The sundae has Tahitian vanilla cream with a 23-karat gold leaf, almonds, caviar, and a sugar-encrusted orchid. It takes eight hours to make and comes in a $350 Baccarat crystal goblet (with more gold leaf) and an 18-karat gold spoon. Just so you understand this better, $350 is currently 135,450 Naira. For ice cream o! how are your jaws right now?
Pretzels were once a symbol of love
During the 17th century, pretzels came to symbolize undying love. According to folk lore, in 1614, a Swiss royal couple used a pretzel in their wedding to seal their bond, and some historians believe this is where the saying “tying the knot” came from. Awwwwnnn!!!
Mageirocophobia is a real thing
This is just downright laughable, or not actually, because phobias are real situations. Now imagine being afraid of cooking. Wawu!!! Mageirocophobia is known as the fear of cooking. While it sounds super scary, it’s fairly common. Omo, hunger go kill person…
Cotton candy was created by a dentist
Weirdly enough, cotton candy was invented in 1897 by a dentist. He partnered with a confectioner, and they created cotton candy, which at the time was called “fairy floss.” Eventually, another dentist created a similar fairy floss machine in 1921 and called the confection “cotton candy,” which stuck better than the previous name. What were they thinking though? Or why weren’t they thinking at all? We love cotton candy too much and our teeth suffer; then again, the tooth aches keep them in business, so, genius move it was at the end of the day.
Yubari King Cantaloupes are outrageously expensive
Another jaw dropper right here; the Yubari King cantaloupe is the most expensive fruit in the entire world. They have been auctioned off for as much as $27,295. As a matter of fact, in 2019, two Yubari king Cantaloupes were auctioned for $45, 000. Ermmmmmm!!! Again, so you get the full picture, this is equivalent to 17, 415, 000 Naira. It’s a fruit o. somebody is dicing onions in this vicinity.
Apples can stay fresh for a LONG time
Some apples you buy in the supermarket can be more than a year old! They’re still fresh because they were held in cold storage. Tomatoes, see your mate…
Radishes were once used as a form of payment
In ancient Egypt, radishes, as well as onions and garlic, were given to workers as wages. These were provided to workers because they helped with infectious diseases. How much is your salary again???