The familiar and popular onion is a bulb
of Allium cepa, a low growing plant. Botanists
classify it in either the lily family or
the amaryllis family.
Geographical
Sources
Onions
are grown world-wide, including the United
States.
Traditional
Ethnic Uses
Onions
are popular everywhere and are used as both
a condiment and a vegetable in almost any
savory food.
Taste
and Aroma Description
Fresh
onions are pungent and have a sharp bite.
Cooked onions lose this heat and develop a
rich sweetness.
History
/ Region of Origin
Onions
have been grown since before recorded history.
They were fed to workers building pyramids
and were found in the tomb of King Tut. Onions
are noted in the Bible as one of the foods
most longed for by the Israelites after leaving
Egypt for the Promised Land. They have been
enjoyed by most cultures throughout history.
Christopher Columbus brought Onions with him
to the Americas. Their popularity quickly
spread among native American cultures.
