Changes in the strukture of nutrition of Dnieper Ukraine population in the second half of the 18th and 19th centuries. The potato spreading and its implementing in the daily diet
Keywords:
history of nutrition, food revolution, potato, Dnieper Ukraine (Naddniaprianshchyna), Kyiv Governorate, Chernihiv GovernorateAbstract
Introduction. The field of the history of nutrition is experiencing active development in Ukraine, as evidenced by recent studies from authors like Oleksii Sokyrko and Ihor Netudykhatkin. However, certain aspects, particularly the introduction and proliferation of new crops, remain insufficiently explored and are only briefly mentioned in historical and ethnographic works. This study focuses on the spread of potatoes, a now traditional crop in Ukraine that was initially unknown in the early 18th century.
Methods. This study employs conventional historical research methods along with methodologies from related disciplines such as ethnography and literary studies. The cataloging process, primarily following a chronological framework, played a significant role. This approach facilitated the organization of information regarding the spread of potatoes in Dnieper Ukraine (Naddniaprianshchyna), considering factors like location, timeframe, and settlement type.
Results. Employing general historical research methods and drawing on related sciences such as ethnography and literary studies, the article investigates the appearance, dissemination, and rapid integration of potatoes into the gardens and tables of Ukrainian peasants. The findings reveal that potatoes emerged in Dnieper Ukraine (Naddniaprianshchyna) in the second half of the 18th century, initially gaining popularity among urban dwellers. This introduction and spread were part of the broader European “food revolution” marked by the active incorporation of crops from the American continent into local diets. Due to its high yield and minimal space requirements, potatoes complemented traditional cereal crops without displacing them. Over the course of a century, potatoes significantly contributed to the food security of the region. While virtually unknown in the Kyiv Governorate in the mid-18th century, potatoes constituted 10% of the total harvest a century later. In the Chernihiv Governorate, this figure reached nearly 27% by the end of the 19th century.
Conclusions. Thus, within a century, potatoes secured a prominent place in the diet of Dnieper Ukraine inhabitants, ranking as the second main product after rye. The versatile vegetable quickly found its way into the recipes of rural traditional dishes like borscht and dumplings, eventually becoming a staple in Ukrainian cuisine by the late 19th century.
Keywords: history of nutrition, food revolution, potato, Dnieper Ukraine (Naddniaprianshchyna), Kyiv Governorate, Chernihiv Governorate
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