Carrots have been grown for thousands of years. We will inform you about the origin, the origin and the history of this healthy and tasty vegetable.
The healthy root with many names: The carrot is known as yellow turnip, carrot, root, carrot, yellow turnip, in Switzerland as carrot and in English as carrot. The correct botanical name is Daucus carota subsp. sativus. It belongs to the umbelliferae family and has an extraordinarily high carotene content. The name carrot is derived from the Latin word “carota”. However, this is not related to the appetizing orange color due to the beta-carotene. “Carota” means something like “burned” in German and suggests that the tasty roots were purple in color in ancient times.
Possible places of origin
The origin is believed to be in different regions around the world. However, the exact region of origin has not yet been found. It is assumed, however, that possible areas of origin could be in northern Africa, in the Middle East and in southern Europe. The spread of the crisp and colorful roots then took place quickly, because it feels very comfortable in both temperate and subtropical climates. However, there are currently two other options about the origin or the crossing to the carrot known to us. On the one hand, the carrot could be a mix of wild carrots and giant carrots, both of which can be found in southern Europe. Another option is that the black carrot, which is native to Turkey, has been grown into today's orange carrot for many years. To this day, however, the experts are still not in agreement.
Popular from the Neolithic to today
Finds from the most varied of areas have proven that the carrot was already eaten in the Neolithic and not too scarce. This is probably one of the reasons for the many names, because the valued vegetable has always been named differently in different regions. Regardless of whether it was with the Greeks or Romans: Here, too, the carrot was a common vegetable in all walks of life. At that time, experts assume, the color was rather white and creamy to purple-red. The breeding skills of the Dutch with their green thumbs brought Century the yellow-orange color that is still known and popular today. The success of carrots is not only due to their great color: they are very healthy, digestible and also impress children with their sweet taste. The carrot is also number 2 in Germany on the ranking of the most popular vegetables among Germans, right in front of the onion and behind the potato.
If you too want to grow the popular vegetable, you will find our best here Tips for the perfect carrot from your own garden.
