Onion: History and facts

Onions may bring a tear to your eye, but the humble onion has been food for deities and slaves alike. Valued for its flavour and medicinal qualities, this staple of the kitchen has a long and interesting history.
The word “onion” is from the Latin word “unio,” which means “single” or “one.” This is due to the fact the onion plant produces a single bulb, unlike garlic, which produces many small bulbs. Onions belong to the Allium genus and are closely related to garlic, leeks, chives, scallions and shallots. Onions and other Allium vegetables contain sulphuric compounds that give them a strong odour that sometimes irritates the eyes, causing tears.
One of the oldest foods known to people, onions probably originated in Asia, possibly in Pakistan. It is likely that people were eating wild onions in prehistoric times.
Onions were first cultivated about 5,000 years ago. Growing or gathering onions was easy to do, and the bulbs could be dried and eaten later. The four most common methods to cook onions are sautéed, caramelised, grilled and roasted.
There are many varieties of onion: red, yellow, white and green. Some taste very strong, while others are mildly sweet.
Growing Onions
The early pilgrims brought and planted onions when they arrived in North America, but Native Americans had been using wild onions long before that. Today, US farmers plant about 125,000 acres of onions each year and produce about 6.2 billion pounds annually. More than 160 countries grow onions, and many grow enough for export. It is estimated that more than 9.2 million acres of onions are harvested globally every year. Leading onion-producing countries are China, India, the United States, Turkey, and Pakistan.
Medicinal Uses
Onions have been valued for their medicinal qualities for thousands of years. They have been used to treat colds, breathing problems, and bacterial infections. Today, research shows that onions can have a positive effect on health, lowering cholesterol, and reducing some cancer risks.

Interesting Facts

• Onions can be eaten raw, cooked, fried, dried or roasted.
• Red onions are sometimes called Spanish onions or salad onions.
• The average American eats about 20 pounds (7.4 kg) of onions yearly.
• Eating parsley or other herbs with high amounts of chlorophyll can help get rid of onion breath.
• According to legend, the thickness of an onion skin can help predict winter weather. Thin skins mean a mild winter, while thick skins predict a harsh one.
• To help avoid tears when cutting onions, chill them first and cut into the root end of the onion last. —[email protected]