Tomatoes first originated in South America, only reaching Europe in the 1620s. They were not at first eaten, however. What were they used for?

Answer: Decoration; in view of their unique colour they made for an exotic house adornment. Tomatoes then soon began being used as a medicine, primarily for eye complaints. Only by the 1690s were they consumed as a foodstuff.

Source: Tomatoland by Barry Estabrook

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