Have you ever wondered who cooked the first meal and how cooking even began?Around two million years ago, before the invention of cooking, early humans survived on a diet of raw foods—fruits, vegetables, nuts, and raw meat. Life was tough; the food was hard to chew and even harder to digest. Then, an incredible discovery changed everything: fire!The exact details of how fire was first controlled are still a mystery, but it's likely that early humans stumbled upon natural fires caused by lightning. Gradually, they learned to harness fire's power, sparking the beginning of cooked food. The ability to cook provided numerous benefits, marking a significant leap in human evolution.Cooking made food softer, which made it easier to eat and digest. This meant that our ancestors could absorb more nutrients and energy from their meals—a crucial advantage for survival. More energy led to bigger brains and more complex social structures. Additionally, cooking meat killed harmful pathogens and parasites, reducing illness and making food safer.The invention of cooking also brought people together. The hearth, or cooking fire, became the community's heart, where stories were shared, and bonds were formed. These gatherings played a critical role in the development of language and culture.Fast forward to about 10,000 years ago, the development of agriculture introduced new foods like grains, beans, and vegetables into the diet, leading to even more diverse cooking styles. Our ancestors began boiling, baking, and frying, using various tools and methods that laid the foundation for modern cooking techniques.Today, cooking is much more than a survival technique; it's a global language of creativity and culture. Every dish tells a story of natural history, human ingenuity, and the endless possibilities that come from mixing ingredients.Cooking boosts brain sizeScientists believe that learning to cook food was a major turning point in human evolution. Cooking made food easier to eat and digest, which helped early humans save energy and led to an increase in brain size. This change allowed for more complex thoughts and behaviors, helping to shape the course of human history.First restaurant opened in ParisThe very concept of the restaurant, as we know it today, started in Paris in 1765. A soup vendor named Boulanger opened an establishment that sold soups and other "restaurants" (restoratives). These were considered to be dishes that would restore health, and from this, the dining establishment took the name "restaurant."World’s oldest cookbookThe oldest known cookbook in existence was written in ancient Mesopotamia, around 1700 BCE. It contains recipes for stews, made from meats and vegetables, indicating that even thousands of years ago, people were experimenting with different ingredients to create tasty dishes.Taste testing is ancientThe practice of having a designated food taster dates back to ancient times, where emperors, kings, and leaders employed them to safeguard against poisoning. This job was both a great honor and a significant risk.World's oldest known "kitchen" is around 190,000 years oldArchaeologists discovered the world's oldest known cooking hearth in a cave in South Africa. Dating back 190,000 years, this ancient kitchen suggests that early humans were cooking with controlled fire much earlier than previously thought, providing a communal space that may have served as a social hub.Cooking has shaped languagesThe spread and development of cooking techniques have influenced language across cultures. Many words used in English and other languages have origins related to cooking processes and culinary tools, showing the global impact of food preparation on communication..Vanilla is extracted from an orchidVanilla, one of the most popular flavours in the world, is derived from the seed pods of an orchid plant, specifically the Vanilla planifolia. It's the only orchid out of 20,000 species that produces an edible fruit. Extracting vanilla flavour involves a lengthy process of drying and curing the beans..The most expensive spiceSaffron, known for its bright red colour and distinctive flavour, is the most expensive spice in the world. It’s made from the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus flower, and it takes about 75,000 flowers to produce a single pound of saffron spice..Spices were once currencyIn ancient times, spices were incredibly valuable and were often used as currency. For example, in the Middle Ages, peppercorns were so precious that they could be used to pay rent and taxes. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg were sought after not just for their flavor but also for their ability to preserve food and disguise the taste of meat that was past its prime..Invention of canning was a prize-winning ideaThe process of canning food was developed by a French confectioner named Nicolas Appert in the early 19th century. He discovered that food could be preserved if it was heated and then sealed in airtight containers. This invention won him a prize of 12,000 francs from the French government, which had offered the money to anyone who could devise a method to preserve large quantities of food for the army and navy..Chocolate chip cookies were an accidentThe beloved chocolate chip cookie was invented by accident by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1938. She ran the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts and added chopped up bits of a Nestle chocolate bar to her cookie recipe, expecting the chocolate to melt and absorb into the dough. Instead, the chocolate pieces held their shape, creating the first known version of the chocolate chip cookie..Tea has influenced global trade and politicsTea, one of the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide, played a pivotal role in historical events and the development of trade routes. For example, the demand for tea in Britain led to the Opium Wars in the 19th century and the eventual colonization of regions like India and China..Microwave was invented by accidentThe microwave oven, now a staple in kitchens around the world, was invented entirely by accident. In 1945, engineer Percy Spencer was testing a military-grade magnetron and discovered that it melted a candy bar in his pocket. This led to the realization that microwaves could cook food, and by 1947, the first commercial microwave oven was introduced.
