Unsurprisingly, onions play an important role in the vegetable family. In Germany alone, onions are consumed up to 300,000 tons a year. Robert, an English writer, praised the onion: "It's a rose in a vegetable. Without onions, the art of cooking would lose its luster. Once onions disappear from the kitchen, people's diet is no longer a pleasure. There are many kinds of onions, roughly 500 kinds. Eating onion can make people appetite, and its nutritional value can not be ignored. Agronomists have pointed out that onions are rich in calcium, iron and vitamins.
The value of onions can be traced back to Central Asia 5,000 years ago. Ancient Egyptians especially loved onions, which were essential vegetables on their tables and important funeral offerings to accompany the deceased pharaohs. They even offered gifts to gods because ancient Egyptians thought onions had some mysterious power. When archaeologists recently excavated an ancient Egyptian tomb, they found that onions, which had gone through 3,000 years of vicissitudes, still lay intact at the bottom of the tomb. It is said that when Egyptian slaves built the unparalleled pyramids, they carried large quantities of onions with them, and when they were thirsty or exhausted, they ate them to replenish their energy. Because the onion was shaped like a ball encircled by layers, the Egyptians at that time regarded it as a symbol of eternity. When they swear to heaven, they hold an onion in their right palm. During the Crusades in the 13th century, onions were introduced from Syria to France with the current of the army. Frenchmen, known for their dietary attention, are the best-selling ingredients for sauces around the world by soaking onion slices in white wine or butter. An emperor in Germany developed a habit of eating onions. He said that he did not eat onions every day and was in a bad mood all day. By the Middle Ages, onions doubled in value and became wedding gifts or debt-paying credits.
In fact, people in ancient Greece and Rome also loved onions. In the eyes of ordinary people and nobles, onions were delicious vegetables. Ancient Romans also gave it a very special name, meaning something of Pearl quality. Greeks use onions to boost the explosiveness of athletes who are going to participate in the Olympic Games. Before the game, athletes will consume a pound of onion, drink onion juice and wipe the onion on their bodies. The Romans ate onions regularly. Pedanius Dioscorides, a Roman physician of Greek origin in the first century A.D., pointed out several medicinal uses of onions.
By the Middle Ages, the three main vegetables of European cuisine were beans, cabbage and onions. Onions are used to relieve headaches, treat snake bites and hair loss. At the same time, it is also used as a wedding gift.
Pilgrims brought onions on May flowers. However, they found that Native Americans have used wild onions in a variety of ways: raw or cooked. At the same time, as seasoning or vegetables, onions are also used in syrup, as mud dressing, as ingredients in dyes, and even as toys.
Onion is praised by people all over the world. Although it has special flavor, its medical value is also an important factor. Previously, American scientists theoretically demonstrated that onions do reduce high blood pressure in humans. With the development of scientific research, it seems that the value of onions will increase day by day.