I Was Peeling Some Salsfy

[puff_not_snuff]

I was peeling some salsify I had grown, actually a leftover root I somehow overlooked plucking over the winter that I pulled upon just yesterday, satisfyingly. They have this sort of sticky sap that oozes out when you nick them and I started to wonder how long it took people to find out this vegetable was safe to eat. I mean somehow associate a sticky white sap with something potentially poisonous but this is an unnecessary example anyways. But, do you get what idea I am am trying to peel and coax out of you, about: food and toxicity, the length of human learning way back in millennia of yore? Simply curious.

 

[verporchting]

No, but I’ve often wondered about the first guy who looked at a lobster or crab and said, I’m gonna eat that thing. Seriously, guy was hungry I guess.

 

[Pooh-Bah]

I'm actually looking grow some salsify myself this year, what sort of amazing culinary uses does the stuff have?

 

[bullet08]

Most of saps from plants are associated with latex. People who are allergic can react rather badly. Fig trees have latex. Some people break out even just brushing fig leaves. I have seen bleeding from handling fig trees. Not fun. But they just couldn't stop eating the figs. Demented.

 

[puff_not_snuff]

I'm actually looking grow some salsify myself this year, what sort of amazing culinary uses does the stuff have?

I usually eat it simply roasted or boiled with some butter. Like any root you like already really. I have yet to grow any of a decent size and peeling them at the size mine grew is time consuming- hope you have better luck with yours. I planted more as well.

 

[OzPiper]

Probably tried out of necessity in times of famine

Many example of food that are poisonous or have unpleasant side-effects unless pre-treated to remove their toxic component(s)

People persisted in finding ways to make these things edible
because the alternative was to die of starvation

 

[puff_not_snuff]

People persisted in finding ways to make these things edible
because the alternative was to die of starvation

I guess what I wonder most of all is how that sort of testing was conducted and on who.

 

[OzPiper]

In parts of Asia, there are a vast variety of creepy crawlies (crickets, tarantulas, scorpions, etc) offered at market food stalls
The Australian indigenous people eat witchetty grubs, bogong moths and mangrove worms
They also make “bread” from a native grain that has to be pounded, then leached of their toxic component before baking

Survival forces us to try things we would otherwise never contemplate doing

 

[kcghost]

People will eat anything. May have to give them a few beers at first.

 

[trouttimes]

How hungry was the first person to eat blue cheese?

 

[B.Lew]

I’ve often wondered the musings of the OP’s with mushrooms. Many poisonous varieties. When I am foraging I often ponder how many people died trying different mushrooms. Or at least how many had a rough 24 hours gut wrenching their bile!

 

[condorlover1]

@B.Lew : I have often pondered that since the failure rate must have been quite high. I believe one of the Roman Emperor's died from eating the wrong type of mushroom.