The story begins with a historical event known as the Columbian Exchange. In 1492, when Christopher Columbus set foot in America, he inadvertently opened up the greatest food revolution in history. European explorers brought potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cocoa, and many other crops from America back home. From there, they spread throughout Asia, Africa, and every corner of the planet. It completely changed the way people eat, cook, and survive. Without these things, can you imagine a world lacking potatoes, lacking tomatoes, lacking chocolate? This world would certainly be very dull, and it wouldn't even be spicy without peppers.

The Columbian Exchange connected two worlds. The Old World, which refers to the part of the world known before, includes Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the New World, which is America, creating a global cuisine that we enjoy today.

Let's start with potatoes. The humble tuber from the Andes has become humanity's savior. When potatoes arrived in Europe in the 16th century, they were met with intense suspicion. Many called it the food of the devil because it grows underground, and there were even rumors that it caused leprosy. But by the 18th century, potatoes had turned the tables. With high yields and ease of cultivation in nutrient-poor soil, potatoes became a staple food in Europe, especially in Iceland. They helped people survive famines, boosted population growth, and supported industrialization by providing cheap energy.

An interesting fact in 19th century Iceland is that potatoes accounted for up to 80% of the calorie intake in people's diets. But tragedy also struck. The potato famine in the mid-19th century due to disease caused millions to die or be forced to migrate, mostly to America. This shows the importance of potatoes to Europe at that time. In cuisine, potatoes are used in a variety of ways, from French fries at McDonald's to your own kitchen. Mashed potatoes at Christmas dinner to Indian potato cakes or potato soup with bones in Vietnam. Potatoes are present in every cuisine.

French fries are one of the stars of the fast food industry, contributing up to 30% of the revenue of chains like McDonald's and KFC. In Germany, people consume an average of about 57 kg of potatoes each year, making it one of the highest potato-consuming countries in the world, equivalent to eating potatoes almost every meal. Potatoes are not just food; they are a global phenomenon. Next is the tomato, the fruit that has become the soul of Italian cuisine. Moreover, when tomatoes arrived in Europe from South America, they were suspected of being poisonous because they belong to the nightshade family, which includes a toxic plant, but the Italians bravely experimented, and by the 18th century.

Tomato sauce was born, becoming the heart of dishes like pizza and pasta. Tomatoes are not only tastier with their characteristic sweet and sour flavor but also more visually appealing with their bright red color. Tomatoes have conquered every cuisine. In Vietnam, tomatoes are present in sour soup, salads, and are used very creatively. Many even ask online what did people use to make fish soup before tomatoes existed? In fact, nothing was lacking, but tomatoes help enhance the flavors of the dishes.

An astonishing figure is that the world produces about 180 million tons of tomatoes each year, with the US, Italy, and China being the top consumers. In Italy, the average person eats 25 kg of tomatoes each year, mostly in the form of pasta sauce. Tomatoes also create unique festivals in Spain. The annual tomato-throwing festival attracts tens of thousands of people to have fun with over 120 tons of tomatoes used each time. Tomatoes are not just food; they are a symbol of joy and creativity in cuisine. Now onto peppers, the spice that has ignited taste buds worldwide.

Peppers originated from Central and South America, cultivated by indigenous people over 6000 years ago. When peppers reached Europe through the Portuguese, they quickly spread to Asia and Africa. In India, peppers transformed bland curries into the fiery essence of cuisine, establishing the reputation of Indian food. An interesting fact is that before peppers appeared, Indians used black pepper to create spiciness. But black pepper is expensive, while peppers are cheaper, easier to grow, and quickly took over the position of black pepper. In Korea, kimchi is a dish considered a national treasure, and kimchi would be nothing without peppers.

In Vietnam, peppers are also very important, with fish sauce, peppers, and chili sauce for pho. These are the things that make diners eat while exclaiming. There will be some hot figures to demonstrate the importance of peppers. The world consumes over 20 million tons of peppers each year. India is the largest consumer, and India also produces over 40% of the world's peppers. In Korea, the average person consumes up to 8 pounds of peppers each year, equivalent to adding peppers to almost every meal. In the US, Sriracha sauce made from peppers sells over 20 million bottles each year, becoming a symbol of modern cuisine. Peppers also create culinary challenges like the chili-eating contest in Mexico, where the winner can eat up to 100 super spicy peppers in a few minutes. Would you dare to try?

Next is cocoa, which has made the whole world melt. In America, the Maya and Aztecs regarded cocoa as a gift from the gods used in rituals and as currency. A bag of cocoa beans could buy a rabbit. When the Spanish brought cocoa to Europe, they added sugar and turned it into chocolate, the luxurious drink of the aristocracy. In the 19th century, solid chocolate was born and has since become a global treat. Today, chocolate is a symbol of love, happiness, and sweetness, even though its bitterness can sometimes be overwhelming. The world consumes about 7.7 million tons of cocoa each year, with Europe accounting for about 40%.

Switzerland leads in chocolate consumption, with each person eating an average of 8.8 kg of chocolate each year. This figure is double that of the US. In Belgium, artisanal chocolate is an art with over 2000 high-end chocolate shops across the country. Chocolate also creates cultural events, such as the Paris Chocolate Festival, where chefs create giant chocolate sculptures that attract millions of tourists each year. From tiny cocoa beans, America has gifted the world a sweet legacy. Additionally, do you know of any other tubers or fruits that come from America?

But why do these things come from America?

First, let's talk about geography. Mother Nature's hand has created America as a perfect playground for crops. America is a super diverse continent stretching from the icy Arctic to the Amazon rainforest. Here, there are all kinds of terrains, from the Andes highlands, humid tropical forests, to the fertile plains of North America. Each region has its own climate, soil, and altitude, like a gigantic natural laboratory. But nature is just one story; the rest belongs to humans, the indigenous peoples of America.

They are the great scientists who do not need laboratories. Those who lived in the Andes domesticated potatoes over 7000 years ago, turning a tiny wild tuber into a staple food source. They selected varieties, crossbred, and even invented ways to dry potatoes to preserve them through harsh winters. They could even preserve them for up to 10 years while still being edible. With tomatoes, the indigenous people of South America meticulously bred from small wild fruits into large, juicy, nutrient-rich fruits suitable for many dishes. They not only cultivated but also knew how to use tomatoes in medicine as a remedy for stomach aches.

The indigenous people also created smart agricultural techniques, with a typical method called the Three Sisters method. The Three Sisters here are corn, beans, and squash. These three sisters are planted together. Corn provides support for the climbing beans, supplies nitrogen to the soil, and squash covers the ground to retain moisture and prevent weeds. This technique helped feed up to 5 million people in ancient cities like Tikal or Machu Picchu without modern machinery at their peak. These super tubers and fruits not only changed cuisine but also had a profound impact on culture and economy. Potatoes drove industrialization by providing cheap energy that helped Europe develop in the 18th and 19th centuries. Tomatoes created the processed food industry.

Peppers created spicy cuisines that exploded the global spice industry worth over 20 billion dollars. Chocolate became a massive industry with major brands and thousands of artisanal shops. They also infiltrated culture. French fries are the common language of youth. Tomatoes beautify every dish, and peppers are challenges for those who love spicy food. Chocolate embodies love. Culturally, these super tubers and fruits carry deep meanings.

For the Maya, cocoa is a symbol of the sacred used in weddings and rituals. Peppers are seen as a spiritual fire that stimulates courage and vitality. Potatoes and tomatoes are symbols of survival that helped indigenous people endure harsh winters. French fries are the most popular snack in the world, with 7 billion servings sold each year in the US. Tomatoes are the soul of pizza, a dish consumed up to 5 billion times each year globally. Peppers are the explosion of culinary challenges. And chocolate is the savior on sad days, with one billion chocolate bars sold every day worldwide.