| Santorini Entertainment
: |
| Santorini Restaurants &
Tavernas : |
|
| The Santorini White Eggplant :
a.k.a the apple of love |
To friends of the white eggplant, she is known
as the 'apple of love', while her enemies insist that the
story is about 'that crazy apple'. To the world, she is known
simply as the 'melitzana' (eggplant).
Whimsical in nature, white in colour, this particular 'fruit'
needs no watering. Sweet to taste, juicy and quite delicious,
this eggplant is beloved by chefs since it does not absorb
oil.
Lovers of good cuisine should be aware that only in Santorini
can one sample this unique delicacy.
|
 |
| These were probably taken before
4,000 years ago in South East Asia. During history, the
eggplant travelled under several different names. In Greece
she became known as 'melongena' (derived from Sanskrit).
The Indians were the first to cultivate, while the Chinese
discovered the variety in 500 BC |
| Spreading towards the western
world, others who discovered the white eggplant's delights
were the Egyptians and the Arabs. The Moors brought it
to the Iberian peninsula, and the Spanish were enchanted
by her graces since they believed her to be an aphrodisiac.
It was they who bestowed the pseudonym 'apple of love'
and introduced it with glory and honour to the rest of
Europe. |
| While southern Spain became
devotees of the white eggplant, the north spat on her
with disdain, preferring to slander her with the name
'mala insana' and when they became truly venemous 'crazy
apple'. In 1650 they took the eggplants to Latin America. |
|
|
|
