Why Apple Pie Isn't American

TL;DR

Most popular foods like apple pie and kimchi originate globally, with countries heavily reliant on foreign crops.

Transcript

Hi, this is Kate from MinuteEarth. A lot of people use the phrase “As American as Apple Pie” to mean “really, really American.” But... the apples in apple pie were domesticated in Kazakhstan, and pollinated by bees native to Europe, the flour and butter came from wheat and cows domesticated in the Middle East, the egg came from the chicken which ca... Read More

Key Insights

• 😋 The origins of popular foods like apple pie and pizza are spread across various regions globally.
• 😋 Globalization and trade have led to countries being heavily reliant on foreign crops for their food consumption.
• 😋 Countries located in warm, biodiverse regions tend to have a higher percentage of locally domesticated foods.
• 😋 Cultural identities are closely tied to specific foods, even if the ingredients have global origins.
• ☄️ Over two thirds of calories consumed worldwide come from crops or animals domesticated in other regions.
• 😋 The interconnectedness of food origins highlights the impact of colonialism, trade, and globalization on our diets.
• 😋 Regions like Southeast Asia are home to important crops like rice, sugar, and bananas, decreasing their reliance on foreign food sources.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why are popular foods like apple pie not originally from the US?

Popular foods like apple pie have ingredients sourced from various regions globally, with apples, flour, butter, and spices originating from different parts of the world.

Q: How does globalization impact our food consumption?

Globalization has led to countries becoming dependent on a small set of plants and animals from different regions, resulting in over two thirds of global calorie consumption originating from foreign crops.

Q: How do countries with warm, biodiverse regions differ in their food origins?

Countries in warm, biodiverse regions have a higher percentage of locally domesticated foods, such as Cambodia and Thailand, which get a quarter of their calories from foods with foreign origins.

Q: Why do we still associate certain foods like kimchi with specific countries?

Even though many popular foods have ingredients sourced globally, cultural identity and traditions often tie foods like kimchi to specific countries, highlighting the complexity of food origins.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Apple pie, Italian pizza, and Asian spicy dishes like kimchi all have origins in various regions across the globe.

• Over two thirds of calories consumed worldwide come from crops domesticated in other regions.

• Different countries vary in their food origins, with warm, biodiverse regions typically having more locally domesticated foods.