Peas: An Exciting History Spanning 10,000 Years
Episode 5 of the ZACMI Worldwide Tour takes us to the Netherlands, setting the stage for a narrative intricately intertwined with the upcoming Episode 6, which will whisk us away to France. What ties these two episodes together are the projects they chronicle and the methods employed to serve our Customers. Today, we will explore the initial segment, reserving the continuation for our next instalment in two weeks.
So, let’s begin by organizing our narrative.
What Do Peas Have to Do with It?
The answer is straightforward: the multinational company we visited boasts a comprehensive array of ZACMI machinery and, on this occasion, our focus was on optimizing the processing line for this intriguing legume, both from a historical and culinary standpoint.
In the paragraphs ahead, prepare to uncover a plethora of fascinating and curious facts about peas, a culinary staple that has significantly influenced the gastronomic and cultural landscape of numerous nations. Moreover, we will examine another captivating aspect: how ZACMI proactively supports its Customers by preemptively identifying and addressing potential issues.
Why Now? How ZACMI Schedules the Maintenance of Your Machines
You should be aware that as the season approaches for processing and marketing a particular food, we proactively reach out to our customers to propose scheduled maintenance, typically about two months before production commences. Drawing on data such as machine working hours, processed product quantities, and other relevant parameters, we identify components that may require inspection or replacement.
While we usually initiate contact, it’s also possible for customers to reach out to us. Through the ZACMI Customer Care portal, a tailored platform designed for our Customers, you can access insights into the maintenance needs of your machinery well in advance. Each company has a personalized user profile with reports tailored to their specific equipment. Requesting intervention through this platform is seamless and immediate. If you haven’t registered for this complimentary service yet, we strongly encourage you to do so promptly. By doing this, you’ll enjoy numerous benefits, including always up-to-date technical manuals, the ability to select original spare parts directly from the exploded view of your machine, real-time assistance and much more.
Returning to our maintenance process, once the need for maintenance is confirmed, one of our technicians conducts an on-site inspection of all the machines. Utilizing the Customer Care portal, they compile a list of parts requiring replacement. This list is then presented to the customer as an offer or proposal, allowing them to decide whether to proceed. What follows next? Stay tuned for the next episode to find out.
As our Worldwide Tour also aims to draw inspiration from the products processed using ZACMI machinery to explore the rich tapestry of global food culture and history, it’s now time to investigate the fascinating world of peas.
10,000 Years of Peas: A Neolithic Story
Peas, native to the Middle East, hold the distinction of being among the earliest legumes cultivated by humans. Their journey into Europe can be traced back to the Neolithic period, circa 8000 BC, coinciding with the dawn of agriculture in the Fertile Crescent. This expansive region, spanning from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq to the Nile in Egypt and encompassing territories around the Jordan River, witnessed the emergence of agriculture, facilitating the spread of peas alongside other edible varieties.
In Europe, peas found favour among the ancient Greeks and Romans, as attested by various historical records predating and postdating the year zero. During the Middle Ages, peas, particularly field peas, served as a vital resource during periods of scarcity, often prepared as purees to alleviate famine.
The cultivation of peas flourished across central and southern Europe, partly extending into the north, buoyed by favorable climatic conditions and ample arable land. The seventeenth century marked a turning point with the introduction of new pea varieties, cultivated and refined at the Medici court, which swiftly became a culinary sensation in France, reaching its zenith during the reign of Louis XIV. This era also witnessed the industrialization of pea production, propelled by intensive cultivation methods and mechanized harvesting techniques.
Today, peas enjoy widespread popularity, lauded for their nutritional benefits. Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating them into our diets.
Proteins or Carbohydrates? Benefits and Drawbacks of Peas
Peas indeed offer a plethora of nutritional advantages: they are low in fat yet packed with essential vitamins and minerals like phosphorus, potassium and folic acid. Their rich phytoestrogen content presents benefits in alleviating menopausal symptoms, while their role in diabetes prevention and blood sugar stabilization is noteworthy.
Despite being a significant protein source, with around 20-23 grams per 100 grams of peas, their carbohydrate content is relatively higher, at 45 grams per 100 grams.
However, it’s important to note some drawbacks: individuals with hyperuricemia and gout should exercise caution due to peas’ elevated purine levels. Additionally, consuming raw peas is not advisable due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors, which are neutralized through cooking.
If you want to avoid a sleepless night, it is better to cook them.
Cook them, it’s ok, but… What about using them for genetic experiments?
Gregor Mendel and His Pea Experiments
Gregor Mendel, renowned as the “father of genetics,” conducted his pioneering genetic experiments around 1865, utilizing peas as his model organism. These experiments proved to be crucial in unraveling the mysteries of hereditary transmission and culminated in the formulation of the three laws of inheritance that bear his name.
Mendel, an Augustinian monk hailing from Brno in Moravia, was born in 1822 and devoted himself primarily to the study of biology and mathematics. Within the confines of the monastery where he resided, he tended to a garden populated with various plants, including the humble pea, which served as the subject of his investigations.
Crossing pea plants exhibiting different traits, such as yellow and green seeds, Mendel meticulously observed how these characteristics were passed down to subsequent generations.
Over the course of seven years and with the involvement of approximately 28,000 pea plants, Mendel identified seven distinct “pure lines” of peas, each distinguished by highly visible traits like seed shape and texture. Through these experiments, he articulated three fundamental laws governing the transmission of hereditary traits:
Law of Segregation: Each hereditary trait is determined by two hereditary factors, inherited one from each parent.
Law of Dominance: Dominant traits can mask recessive ones.
Law of Independent Assortment: Hereditary traits are transmitted independently of each other.
Despite being published in 1865, Mendel’s work did not immediately garner widespread recognition. It wasn’t until three decades later, with the advent of the term “gene,” that scientists came to appreciate the significance of his contributions, bestowing upon him the title of the “father of genetics.”
Mendel’s pea experiments stand as a cornerstone of genetic understanding, catalyzing advancement across molecular biology and medicine. It is truly remarkable how such humble legumes played a fundamental role in shaping our understanding of life itself.
But peas have also left their mark in other fields and contexts, as we are about to discover shortly.
Peas Against Famine
Our leguminous companions played a crucial role in culinary survival during the arduous periods of famine throughout the Middle Ages. In Europe, where resources were scarce and hunger was an all-too-familiar specter, peas emerged as a vital source of protein during times of deprivation.
In an era marked by the dearth of arable land, limited agricultural technologies and the affliction of crop-devastating epidemics, pea purees offered solace and sustenance.
Boiled with onions and broth, then blended to a thick consistency, these purees provided a hearty and nutritious meal with minimal ingredients. For the impoverished and destitute, pea purees represented more than just sustenance; they were a lifeline, offering essential proteins and calories for survival.
However, peas transcended their status as mere sustenance for the impoverished. In a remarkable shift of culinary trends between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, these humble legumes captured the imagination of aristocrats and nobles across the English Channel, to become objects of obsession and culinary indulgence.
Peas and the Obsession of the Sun King
In France, “petit pois” became a culinary sensation at the court of the illustrious Sun King, Louis XIV.
During his reign from 1643 to 1715, these legumes ascended to the status of luxury food, symbolizing culinary prestige among the French nobility. Renowned for their delicacy and fresh flavour, “petit pois” emerged as a trendy and highly coveted delicacy on aristocratic tables.
The popularity of “petit pois” at the court of Louis XIV not only reflected the gastronomic preferences of the era but also served as a means of demonstrating wealth and social status through food. Their inclusion in courtly dishes were a mark of refinement and sophistication, contributing to the ambiance of opulence and extravagance during the lavish royal banquets.
This culinary phenomenon left an indelible mark on French gastronomic history, showing how food could transcend mere sustenance to become a potent symbol of power and influence. The prominence of peas as a fashionable dish at the royal court further bolstered the reputation of French cuisine as one of the most refined and sophisticated in the world.
Indeed, refinement and sophistication echo the tale of a certain princess, whose royal lineage was unveiled through… the presence of a humble pea!
The Princess and the Pea: A True Story?
“The Princess and the Pea,” penned by the renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen in 1835, spins a captivating tale of royal intrigue and sensitivity.
In this enchanting story, a prince, longing to find a genuine princess to marry, encounters a series of disappointments in his quest. However, fate intervenes when a purported princess seeks shelter from a storm at the city gates. To ascertain her authenticity, the old queen devises a test: a single pea placed beneath a towering stack of mattresses and feather cushions. The sensitive princess, unbeknownst to her, unwittingly passes the test by expressing discomfort due to the presence of the tiny pea. Convinced by her sensitivity, the prince joyfully accepts her as his true princess, and they marry to live happily ever after. The pea, which served as a test of royal lineage, finds its place of honour in a museum.
Andersen’s timeless fairy tale has inspired countless interpretations and parodies, including controversial theories suggesting historical roots to the tale. Octavia Monaco’s book is just one example of the enduring fascination with Andersen’s narrative.
Indeed, the pea’s influence extends far beyond literature, permeating popular culture and language with its presence in numerous idiomatic expressions. The humble pea’s journey through folklore and storytelling is true witness of its enduring legacy.
What about sayings involving peas?
Here, we must distinguish between English and Italian.
It is not always easy to intertwine different cultures that, by their very nature, present different social, economic and historical conditions. Each reality produces its own horizon of meaning, and some idioms in one language are difficult to understand in another. The saying “cascare a fagiolo,” (literally “to fall like a bean”) for example, is clear to us Italians but probably obscure to English speakers. It means that something happens at the right moment or is particularly appropriate for the situation. An English translation could be “to hit the nail on the head” or “to come at the right moment.”
Conversely, expressions like the ones we will list now sound strange to Italians.
In the Anglo-Saxon world, you might hear “To spill the beans,” meaning “to reveal a secret or provide secret details.”
This phrase probably originated from the fact that, in the past, election votes were counted in a container of beans or peas. If someone “spilled the beans (or peas),” they were revealing the votes and thus the election results.
Another example is “To be full of beans,” which means to be enthusiastic or full of energy. The expression probably originated from the idea that beans/peas were considered an energizing and stimulating food. So, being “full of beans” meant being full of energy and motivation.
And in Italian?
Well, we will cite three, specifically for peas:
- “Ogni pisello ha il suo baccello.” (lit.: “Every pea has its own pod”).
- “Se mangi piselli, si induriscono i talloni.” (lit.: “If you eat peas, your heels will harden”).
- “I piselli sono sempre nelle frasche.” (lit. “Peas are always among the branches”).
The first means that each person is unique and different from others, just as every pea has its specific pod. It suggests accepting individual differences and not expecting everyone to be the same. It is an invitation to respect each person’s uniqueness.
The second, evidently ironic, implies that eating peas has no concrete effect on the human body. Specifically, it suggests that heels cannot harden due to pea consumption. It is a way to highlight the absurdity of some popular beliefs or superstitions.
The third suggests that peas, being climbing plants, always grow among the branches and bushes (the “frasche,” in fact). In a figurative sense, the proverb means that good things are difficult to reach or obtain and are often hidden or in challenging places, like peas among the bushes. It therefore invites careful searching for what one desires, as it might be in places not immediately accessible.
Are peas really always among the branches?
We gladly revisit this saying to conclude our article.
If it is true that difficult-to-reach things are always hidden or situated in challenging places and if it is true that one must search carefully in order to find what they desire, it is equally true that the dedication and commitment we have put in over 70 years of history to facilitate our customers’ lives means that today ZACMI can enable you to find with immediacy and simplicity everything you need to avoid interruptions in your production line. Most importantly, our assistance is highly accessible and swift, taking place on-site and within the scheduled times before the start of the processing campaigns for various products.
In short, good things are not always difficult to reach!
An example of all this is precisely the cover photo of this article, taken during one of the routine maintenance interventions at our Dutch customer’s site. A perfectly closed circle.