Absolutely everyone adores peanut butter. Practically everyone likes it, whether it’s in a candy bar, a cookie, or eaten straight from the spoon. It’s also the primary reason why the peanut butter and jelly sandwich is one of the most popular and convenient meals in the United States.
On January 24, we celebrate National Peanut Butter Day, which honors a pantry staple in the United States. Peanut butter, whether smooth or chunky, plain or paired with chocolate or jelly, is celebrated annually on this day.
Why Should We Celebrate?
It seems that the Aztecs enjoyed turning just about any food item, from cocoa beans to peanuts, into a paste. This means that, like the Incas, the Aztecs (about 1000 BC) were also producing peanut paste. Peanuts were originally discovered by European explorers in Brazil, South America, and were subsequently cultivated all the way to northern Mexico.
Explorers brought peanuts back to Spain, and the Spanish eventually shipped them to other parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Peanuts were first brought to North America by Africans in the early 1700s. In the United States, peanuts served as a substitute for cocoa and were later turned into food and oil. The labor-intensive nature of growing peanuts led to their stigma as a low-class food source and their use as an inexpensive animal feed.
Also Read: When Does Bill Maher Return In 2023?
Many pottery items in South America were decorated with peanuts or constructed in the shape of peanuts around 3500 years ago, leading to speculation that peanut plants originated in Brazil or Peru. Peanuts were important enough to the Incas of Peru that they were utilized in rituals and were even buried with the mummies. The peanut and maize drink was very well liked by the indigenous peoples of central Brazil.
It was common practice in the 1800s for passing circus wagons to advertise their “hot roasted peanuts,” which drew a large crowd. Since then, street vendors have peddled roasted peanuts during baseball games. Technology and advancements in the nineteenth century reduced the time and effort needed to grow and harvest peanuts, opening up new markets for this snack food.
During the American Civil War, peanuts were a common protein source for soldiers because they didn’t spoil as quickly as meat did.
Multiple individuals contributed to the development of modern peanut butter. Canadian Marcus Gilmore Edson invented the method of grinding roasted peanuts between hot plates to create peanut butter paste in 1884. Well-known nutritionist and cereal creator Dr. John Harvey Kellog created peanut butter in 1895.
One legend has it that a monkey managed to sneak into Dr. Kellogg’s lab and try spreading peanut butter on his banana. Peanut butter was renamed “monkey butter” during World War II. Legend has it that Dr. Ambrose Straub, a physician from St. Louis, created a peanut butter variant specifically for elderly patients who had difficulty chewing meat.
A chemist, it seems, is responsible for the best peanut butter ever made, a variety that has been popular for decades. Joseph Rosefield, a scientist and inventor of homogenization, was tasked with preserving the integrity of the peanut oil and solids.After selling the patent, Rosefield’s company began marketing Peter Pan peanut butter. After the war, Rosefield started his own peanut butter catering company, catering the Skippy brand to the armed forces.
When it comes to peanut butter and peanut candies, Americans are the biggest fans in the world. It has been estimated that peanut butter alone brings in roughly $85 million per year in revenue for the United States. Peanut butter has been an unparalleled nutty darling in the United States since its inception.
Also Read: National Just Do It Day 2023
In its long history, peanut butter has gone from being used as an animal feed to becoming the most profitable sandwich spread in the world. By choosing peanut butter sandwiches over ham or burgers, you are not only doing your body good but also helping the environment by decreasing your carbon footprint and conserving water and land. On this, the official National Peanut Butter Day, several schools serve solely peanut butter sandwiches.
Peanuts and peanut butter have been around for a very long time, with a rich history that stretches from South America to Asia. Numerous new peanut butter tastes and confections have been released to satisfy peanut butter fans from all around the world. Read on; maybe you’ll be persuaded to give peanut butter a shot.
Things To Do On National Peanut Butter Day
Eat More Peanut Butter For Meals A, B, And C!
Try to include peanut butter in each of today’s meals as a fun little challenge. You could start your day with peanut butter on a bagel, have a salad with a dressing made from peanut butter for lunch, and finish it off with Thai peanut curry (which often includes peanut butter as an ingredient) for supper.
Throw A Peanut Butter-Based Party
Sure, there are pizza parties, but why not reminisce about the delectable smooth or crunchy cuisine you ate as a child?It’s also fun for a kid-friendly get-together.
Spend some money on your lover. Gifts that are a little on the nutty side are always appreciated, but those that come as a complete surprise are even more so. Give a present that shows you noticed if peanut butter is one of their favorite foods.
