Tomatoes are in our salads, our sauces, our sandwiches, and our soups. It's hard to imagine pizza without it, or a summer garden without a few tomato plants growing in the corner.

But this wasn't always the case. For hundreds of years, the tomato was feared, avoided, and even blamed for killing people. It was called the "poison apple." It was linked to witchcraft. And in some places, it took over two hundred years before people were willing to put it on their plates.

This is the story of how a small, sour, yellow fruit from the mountains of South America became one of the most beloved ingredients in the world.

Episode artwork: 1909 Bolgiano's Tomato- sourced from Wikimedia commons

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*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com

**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com

***Podcast logo is designed by me

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Episode Details & Website

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• Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium

In 1692, twenty people were put to death in a small Puritan village for something that never really happened: witchcraft. For over three hundred years, people have blamed this on fear, superstition, and social pressure. But what if the real cause weren't witches or demons? What if it was something in their bread? This is the story of Salem witch trials, and of ergot fungus that may have started it all.

Episode artwork: Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr)- sourced from wikimedia

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Support the show

Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter

____________________________________________________

*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com

**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com

***Podcast logo is designed by me

_____________________________________________________

Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at hello@rootsrevealed.org

Episode Details & Website

• Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
• Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
• Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium

Why is the mango hailed across the globe as the "King of Fruits"? Simple Answer: Its history is a vibrant tale of trade, cultural migration, and royal obsession. In this episode, we trace the journey of the mango from its wild origins in South Asia to its status as a global culinary icon. Learn about the legends, folklore, and horticultural history that cemented its status on the throne of fruits.

*I'm re-releasing this episode because it remains one of my personal favourites. It has a fascinating history that I didn't know about, and I enjoyed learning amazing facts during content curation. Also, since it's mango season, a re-release felt fitting.

Support the show

Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter

____________________________________________________

*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com

**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com

***Podcast logo is designed by me

_____________________________________________________

Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at hello@rootsrevealed.org

Episode Details & Website

• Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
• Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
• Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium