Cucumbers, More Than Just For Pickling

Cucumbers are cool refreshing vegetables that we always seem to associate with summer and warm weather. This is because of their cooling, refreshing qualities.

Anyone who eats pickles knows that cucumbers are used for making pickles. It was the Ancient Egyptians who introduced the brining of cucumbers to make pickles, around 2035 BCE. The term pickle is derived from the Dutch word pekel, meaning brine. The brining and pickling is done with many different vegetables, not just cucumbers. Before the word pickle entered the English language, the Old English word for the vegetable was eorþæppel or earth-apple. But there is so much more to cucumbers than just using them for pickles or salads or dips. They are very versatile and have many health benefits as well.

Cucumbers are native to India and have been cultivated for over 3,000 years. They are now a staple in many cuisines, especially in Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. They spread from India to Greece, then to Rome, where the Romans introduced them to the rest of Europe. Once again, Christopher Columbus was instrumental in introducing them to other parts of the world, but this time, he brought them to the New World from the Old World, where usually it was the other way around, and he brought foods from the New World back home to the Old World.

Back in the ancient times, cucumbers were often used for medicinal purposes, such as treatments for scorpion bites and bad eyesight. They were even used to help scare off mice. They are still used for medicinal and healing purposes today, often as part of a facial or spa treatment. All that water in cucumbers can help keep you hydrated. Plus, the fiber boost they give you helps you stay regular and avoid constipation. The vitamin K helps blood clot and keep your bones healthy. Vitamin A has many jobs, like helping with vision, the immune system, and reproduction.

Because the seeds are found inside the fleshy center, cucumbers are considered to be fruits rather than vegetables. The seeds are the flavor packets of cucumbers, yet ironically, the seeds are what we normally throw away. They grow on a vine, and one vine can produce between 25-125 cucumbers, depending on the variety.

In today’s society, cucumbers are just another ingredient tossed into a salad, but, for the people in the early modern period, cucumbers were a representation of excess, salvation, and the ever-envious ability to have surplus. In the old days, having cucumber vines growing on your property was a status symbol. It is believed the Roman Emperor Tiberius ate cucumbers everyday.

Today, cucumbers are eaten all over the world. They are used for all kinds of recipes and dishes. The British have made them famous in the cucumber tea sandwiches. Now just about every culture uses cucumbers in many of their traditional foods and recipes. Today, the possibilities for incorporating cucumbers into recipes are endless.

The cucumber originates in Asia extending from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, China (Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi), and Northern Thailand, but now grows on most continents, and many different types of cucumber are grown commercially and traded on the global market. It seems everyone loves cucumbers, and rightfully so.

I hope you have all enjoyed learning a little more about these cool, refreshing fruits we all enjoy. Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe, stay well, and stay warm if you are in the cold belt right now. ‘Til next time.