Burt Wolf : what we eat: Some like it hot : the story of chili peppers
When Columbus set out from Spain, his objective was to get King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella into the black pepper business. He believed that the islands he landed on in the Caribbean were off the coast of China. When the natives showed Columbus chi...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Milk's leap toward immortality : the story of cheese in California
People have been making cheese for over 5,000 years. Cheese has many advantages over milk. It is easy to travel with, takes up less space, and lasts longer. In America, cheese making was a skill that was passed from mother to daughter. Selling chees...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Simple pleasures : Mediterranean foods in the Americas
The staples of the Mediterranean diet - wheat bread, wine and olive oil - were not present in the Americas before Columbus. When the Spanish colonists settled in America, the foods they brought with them from the Mediterranean were blended into the ...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: When money grew on trees : the story of chocolate
During his final voyage in 1502, the Mayans introduced Columbus to the cacao bean, which was an integral part of their diet. This program follows the history of chocolate from its importance to the Mayan culture, to its arrival in Spain and eventual...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Time to play ketchup : the story of the tomato
The Aztecs and Incas cultivated the tomato and in 1519, Hernando Cortez became the first European to see one. He sent some to the Spanish settlements in the Caribbean and from there back to Europe. In this program we find out why the tomato was read...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Domesticated bliss : the story of livestock in America
Before Columbus, there were no large domesticated animals in the Americas. On his second voyage in 1493, Columbus brought along 10 mares, 24 stallions, burros, sheep, and a full complement of cattle and pigs. Within ten years, these animals were pre...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Connecting the dots
This program is an overview of the series Burt Wolf: What We Eat. It looks at the forces that led to the voyages of Columbus and their continuing effect on our world. It is a general synopsis of the most pertinent historical data presented in the se...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: The seed of life : the story of corn
When Columbus came ashore on Cuba, on November 4, 1492, the Natives gave him corn. The cultivation of corn quickly spread around the world because it grows almost everywhere and can be eaten by man or animal. We learn how Native Americans planted an...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: The hand that stirred the pot : African foods in America
Over 10 million slaves were transported from Africa to the Americas, bringing with them their knowledge of how to grow and cook their traditional foods. The slaves came from many different tribes with many different diets. This program shows the maj...
Burt Wolf : what we eat: Taking the high grounds : the story of coffee
The first serious cultivation of coffee as a cash crop took place in Yemen during the 1400's. Islamic pilgrims spread it throughout the Muslim world. This program looks at the discovery of coffee, its ability to control the economy of major nations ...