There are hundreds and thousands of different kinds of food in the world.
But only few have had such a huge mark on human history.
Sometimes I ask myself how people figured out what to do in order to make certain foods.
We have transformed certain ingredients into culinary masterpieces that have made humans Earth’s greatest species.
I got curious about the foods that might be humanity’s greatest achievements and here’s what I came up with.
Bread
They don’t use the phrase “best thing since sliced bread” for nothing.
Bread is thought to have originated about 10,000 years ago and is probably humanity’s greatest food.
The idea of bread is simple: turn wheat, barley, or rye into something edible.
Bread has been a staple food for billions of humans over the course of history and remains so to this day.
One of the best things about bread is how versatile it is. Dip it in soup, toast it with butter, make a sandwich, eat it plain, the list goes on!
Fun fact: Bread rises when yeast convert sugars into carbon dioxide. This creates pockets of air that give bread its signature rise and texture.
Cheese
Cheese is another one of humanity’s greatest food achievements.
Over 8,000 years ago, we humans figured out that separating milk curds from whey and allowing them to age created cheese.
Cheese was perfect for humans at that time because it allowed them to preserve nutrients in milk for a longer period of time.
The best part about cheese is that there are so many flavors and textures to choose from, and it can be used in so many ways! My favorite? Fondue.
Fun fact: Different bacteria and molds are what give each type of cheese its own unique flavor.
Potato
The
potato is another food that helped humans get where they are today. The potato was first grown about 8,000 years ago in modern day Peru.
The potato can be grown just about anywhere in the world, and because of this has made itself a staple food in many cultures all around the world.
It is considered a nutritional powerhouse, packed with essential
vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates. Potatoes are a good source of potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and B vitamins, and were perfect for early human’s diets.
Like many of the other foods on this list, potatoes are very versatile. You can roast them, mash them, boil them, fry them, or even stick them in a stew!
The potato is the real MVP when it comes to preventing famines, but sadly is also the cause of famine during history.
Chocolate
Almost everyone loves chocolate, and to be fair, it is a delicious treat.
Chocolate came from the Aztecs, who used chocolate as an unsweetened, bitter drink. It was probably awesome back then.
Then the Spanish came and they took chocolate back with them to Europe. Once Europeans added sugar there was no going back, and is pretty much the chocolate that we think of today.
Initially, chocolate was really a luxury reserved for royalty and religious ceremonies, but eventually spread all over the world to anyone and everyone.
Fun fact: Certain chocolates have caffeine, which gives them a mild stimulant effect. And others have something called phenylethylamine, which elevates your mood and makes you happy.
Yogurt
Yogurt is thought to have been created over 4,000 years ago.
Yogurt is another on this list that is a fermented milk product. Maybe these people just left some of this stuff out too long?
While yogurt is fermenting, a bacteria called probiotics is produced. This bacteria is actually good for us though, and contributes to gut health and overall well-being.
Yogurt can be used for so much, from creating sauces to being used as a breakfast food and is a staple in many cultures.
Fun fact: Yogurt ferments by bacteria converting lactose into lactic acid, which enhances shelf life and changes the flavor.
Spices
Spices got insanely popular all around the world due to trading. They fueled global exploration, cultural exchange, economic development, and revolutionized cuisine across the globe.
Spices make food taste way better. We can all tell the difference between food with spices and that bland stuff without.
Not only did spices make food taste way better, they also helped preserve food before refrigerators.
Another great thing about spices is that they help us explore other cultures. Certain spices can be found in certain regional foods.
From chili peppers to cinnamon, spices definitely had a major impact on the relationship that humans have with food.
Coffee
There is almost nothing better than a fresh hot cup of coffee in the morning. Delicious and it gives you the kick you need for the day.
Coffee started in Ethiopia as a wild berry and traversed across the world to develop many different flavors.
Like spices, because coffee was traded around the world, it fueled new ideas and global interaction, especially because it fuels productivity and social interaction.
And that’s the best thing about coffee - the productivity. Caffeine, which is found in coffee, boosts alertness and focus, and blocks the sleep receptors in our brain that make us tired.
Who knows how far along humans would be technologically if it wasn’t for the gift of coffee.
Sushi
Sushi started in Japan over 2,000 years ago when they combined vinegared rice with raw fish.
At first, it was just a really good way to preserve fish through fermentation, but over time it became the delicious, art-like food we all love now.
There are so many combinations that you can make with sushi. Some of these combinations could be based on seasonal ingredients.
Sushi is now found worldwide with many different regional variations, and has even sparked a newfound appreciation for sustainable seafood practices.
Actually, one of my favorite movies is about sushi. Go check out Jiro Dreams of Sushi!
Noodle
While the noodle might not be the best of humanity's greatest food achievements, it definitely deserves some recognition.
Noodles are used as the backbone in many dishes all around the world. Depending on the culture different types of noodles may be used. And the best part is, you can add almost any topping to noodles to create a variety of flavors!
And while the noodle offers near endless creativity, it’s also loved for its affordability and sustainability. For the price, noodles offer a great source of carbohydrates and energy. The grains that make noodles are easy to grow and widely available.
Plus, there is nothing more fun than slurping a giant, tasty noodle!
Pizza
Pizza is one of those foods that seems like it’s everyone's favorite. And that’s because it's amazing.
Pizza has evolved over centuries originating as a flatbread topped with olive oil and herbs in the Mediterranean area. Over the course of a few centuries, Naples, Italy led the evolution to the pizza we know today.
One of the best things about pizza is that it is very customizable, and it’s enjoyed almost everywhere in the world. Over time it became a blend of different cultures. It seems like all sorts of different parts of the world have their own signature style.
Fun fact: The golden brown, crispy crust of pizza and its taste and texture are due to the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars.
Pickling
Pickling isn’t a type of food, but it’s a method that has done wonders for humanity in terms of food, so I thought I’d include it at the bottom.
The pickling process is mainly a way to preserve food, particularly allowing fruits and vegetables to last way longer than normal. This was huge for us humans before refrigeration was invented, and allowed them to get essential nutrients all year-round.
Pickling is also a great way to turn bland vegetables into something extra tasty! The acidity that comes with pickling brings out the flavor of many foods, not to mention any spices that are added during the process.
Even though pickling itself is not a food, the process did bring us wonderful foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, dill pickles, and gari (the pickled ginger that you get with sushi.)
Summary
Humans are amazing creatures, and sometimes it blows my mind at what we have been able to create in our history, especially when it comes to food.
From bread to cheese to chocolate many foods have helped humanity get to where it is today. There are so many foods that couldn’t make the list, but I really do believe these are humanity’s greatest foods.
A personal favorite for me is biryani. It’s just so delicious that I could eat it every day forever.
Which food do you think is humanity's greatest achievement?
Did you know you can
find recipes by certain foods on Ninth Recipes?
