The Origins Of Food By Continent
On this page, you have a list of food origins. It is quite extensive covering livestock, fruits & nuts, vegetables, spices & herbs, seafood, grains, mushrooms, and dairy products. If you think anything should be included just let me know, use the "Contact us"
My main goal has been to create a resource that will put the origins of food in focus. I myself have always nurtured an interest in this but I can imagine that it is of interest to others as well. I have collected this information almost exclusively from online sources, in particular, the fantastic Wikipedia. There are other great places, like Gernot Katzer’s Spice Pages that I time and again have returned to. I can highly recommend these for further reading.
Discussing origins is quite hard since these many times are debated topics, I reserve myself from any errors in my information since I am a layman, if you have better info just let me know and I will be sure to correct it straight away. I have tried to illustrate botanical and/or domestication origins when appropriate.
There are also pages linking from this one to others of my pages on the same topic: origins. Click the links below to get there.
- An Alphabetic List Of Food Origins -
- The list below but straight A-Z-
- An Alphabetical List Of Vegetables-
- An Alphabetical List Of Fruits & Nuts-
- An Alphabetical List Of Spices & Herbs- An Alphabetical List Of Grains & Cereals-
- An Alphabetical List Of Livestock Animals-
- An Alphabetical List Of Cultivated Edible Mushrooms-
- A-List Of Edible Fish And Seafood-
- A-List Of Dairy Products-
Origins Of Food By Continent
The division between continents is not completely accurate, I have limited North America to the USA and Canada. The reasons are that it works better, the Mesoamerican cultures have created a similarity between the other regions of America - the flora is also more uniform between them. Click on the desired region on the world map below to go straight there.
The division between continents is not completely accurate, I have limited North America to the USA and Canada. The reasons are that it works better, the Mesoamerican cultures have created a similarity between the other regions of America - the flora is also more uniform between them. Click on the desired region on the world map below to go straight there.
All Continents (not counting Antarctica)
Abalone is large sea snails found in oceans all over the world, they dwell best in cold waters. Most are found off Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Western us and Japan. It is successfully farmed seafood. Fish & Seafood
Amaranth (also Chinese spinach) are several species found in warmer climates throughout the world, partly they are grown for the grain. It is also used as leaf vegetables and is very popular in parts of Africa and Asia. Grains & Cereals
Anchovy is a small fish. Salted and canned in brine it is consumed all over the world. Native to all seas prefer temperate waters. There are about 140 species. Fish & Seafood
Anglerfish is a group of fish found all over the world. The name comes from a kind of fleshy rod protruding from the head, acting as a lure. Fish & Seafood
Barnacles are species belonging to the family Cirripedia. Fish & Seafood
Bass are a number of fish species that are both fresh-and saltwater dwelling. Belongs to the family Perciformes. Exist in all continents except Antarctica. The big brother in the family is the grouper that can weigh 100 kg. Fish & Seafood
Billfish include the species swordfish, sailfish, and marlin, they all have a sword-like a beak used for hunting. Migratory species are found in temperate to tropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Bluefish are found in temperate to tropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Bream is a group of both fresh- and saltwater dwelling fish. The gilt-head bream common in the Mediterranean is the most important for food. The freshwater bluegill is common in North America. Fish & Seafood
Catfish are a number of species that vary a lot in size. Native to all continents except Antarctica. Have been cultivated for hundreds of years. Cultivated. Fish & Seafood
Chiton is a species of primitive shellfish. Are found worldwide in oceans. Has been eaten by indigenous people in the Americas. Fish & Seafood
Chives are small in size but it is a strong tasting onion, Native to all continents except Antarctica. Spices & Herbs, Vegetables
Clam is a very confusing general name that can mean a lot of things. One, that I use, is that they are bivalves that burrow in sediment, which separates them from bivalves that cling to other things or that swim freely that would be scallops. Fish & Seafood
Cockle a group of clams that belong to the Cardiidae family. Found all over the world, a very popular food in China. Fish & Seafood
Crabs are a group of several thousand species. Living salt- and freshwater around the world. Commercially very important. The largest is the Red king crab. Fish & Seafood
Crayfish are several species living in freshwater. Related to true lobster. Carrion eaters. Are found all over the world. Fish & Seafood
Dog have been domesticated for at least 14000 years and are all related to wild wolfs. The practice of eating dog in Korea has been widely criticized in the West but that is done with a short memory. Dogs were kept as pets, for the hunt, and for security but if the going got tough and there was no food on the table - that was when the dog got eaten. Livestock
Eel are over 800 species found in sweet and saltwater all over the world, snake-like. Many times the term refers to eels of the species Anguillidae that live in sweetwater and procreate by migrating to certain saltwater areas (like the Sargasso Sea). The biggest species are morays. Fish & Seafood
Elder and Elderberry is a known species, it spread around the world. it is very common as a spice is a flavour in various European houses. Spices & Herbs
Elderberry (also an elder, Sambucus) are native to temperate regions around the world. Fruits & Nuts
Amaranth (also Chinese spinach) are several species found in warmer climates throughout the world, partly they are grown for the grain. It is also used as leaf vegetables and is very popular in parts of Africa and Asia. Grains & Cereals
Anchovy is a small fish. Salted and canned in brine it is consumed all over the world. Native to all seas prefer temperate waters. There are about 140 species. Fish & Seafood
Anglerfish is a group of fish found all over the world. The name comes from a kind of fleshy rod protruding from the head, acting as a lure. Fish & Seafood
Barnacles are species belonging to the family Cirripedia. Fish & Seafood
Bass are a number of fish species that are both fresh-and saltwater dwelling. Belongs to the family Perciformes. Exist in all continents except Antarctica. The big brother in the family is the grouper that can weigh 100 kg. Fish & Seafood
Billfish include the species swordfish, sailfish, and marlin, they all have a sword-like a beak used for hunting. Migratory species are found in temperate to tropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Bluefish are found in temperate to tropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Bream is a group of both fresh- and saltwater dwelling fish. The gilt-head bream common in the Mediterranean is the most important for food. The freshwater bluegill is common in North America. Fish & Seafood
Catfish are a number of species that vary a lot in size. Native to all continents except Antarctica. Have been cultivated for hundreds of years. Cultivated. Fish & Seafood
Chiton is a species of primitive shellfish. Are found worldwide in oceans. Has been eaten by indigenous people in the Americas. Fish & Seafood
Chives are small in size but it is a strong tasting onion, Native to all continents except Antarctica. Spices & Herbs, Vegetables
Clam is a very confusing general name that can mean a lot of things. One, that I use, is that they are bivalves that burrow in sediment, which separates them from bivalves that cling to other things or that swim freely that would be scallops. Fish & Seafood
Cockle a group of clams that belong to the Cardiidae family. Found all over the world, a very popular food in China. Fish & Seafood
Crabs are a group of several thousand species. Living salt- and freshwater around the world. Commercially very important. The largest is the Red king crab. Fish & Seafood
Crayfish are several species living in freshwater. Related to true lobster. Carrion eaters. Are found all over the world. Fish & Seafood
Dog have been domesticated for at least 14000 years and are all related to wild wolfs. The practice of eating dog in Korea has been widely criticized in the West but that is done with a short memory. Dogs were kept as pets, for the hunt, and for security but if the going got tough and there was no food on the table - that was when the dog got eaten. Livestock
Eel are over 800 species found in sweet and saltwater all over the world, snake-like. Many times the term refers to eels of the species Anguillidae that live in sweetwater and procreate by migrating to certain saltwater areas (like the Sargasso Sea). The biggest species are morays. Fish & Seafood
Elder and Elderberry is a known species, it spread around the world. it is very common as a spice is a flavour in various European houses. Spices & Herbs
Elderberry (also an elder, Sambucus) are native to temperate regions around the world. Fruits & Nuts
Green bean (French bean, runner bean) is just a collective name for most culinary fresh beans. Vegetables
Juniper berry grows on junipers. Used in northern European cooking. Used to flavor gin. Spices & Herbs
Langust also called spiny lobster or rock lobster is a group of crustaceans related to the true lobster. They are found in warm waters in all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Mackerell is a collective name for a number of species, most of them of the "Scombridae" family. Mackerell found in around of temperate and tropical seas around the world. Include bonito and king mackerel. Fish & Seafood
Mantis shrimp is not a shrimp but belongs to another family of crustaceans. Found in oceans around the world, lives in warm water. Fish & Seafood
Mint (also mentha) is a generic term for various species, varieties, and hybrids of plants native to all continents except Antarctica. Examples are spearmint and hybrid peppermint. Many times used in candies but also to flavor meat. Not all plants that are called mints belong to this family. Spices & Herbs
Mussels are several species of clams that all have an almost oval shape. brown and blue mussels are common commercial species that are also cultivated. They thrive best in temperate waters, are native to all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Octopus is a group of mollusks that have eight arms. They are quite intelligent and commonly can use ink as a defence mechanism while fleeing. The larger species can have an arm span of over 4 meters and weigh up to 70kg. They are found in all oceans and are readily caught as food. Fish & Seafood
Oyster mushroom is a mushroom found throughout the world and largely cultivated. The origin is not defined. Mushrooms
Oysters are several species belonging to the Ostreidae family. Many are eaten by humans, raw or cooked. They are found in salt and semi-salt waters in all oceans. They are cultivated on a big scale. Fish & Seafood
Perch is a large family of fish containing among many others walleye and pike-perch. They are freshwater dwelling and found around the world. Fish & Seafood
Prawn is a collective name for various species that can be salt- or freshwater dwellers. Found in all oceans, few are commercially fished in Europe where shrimp are dominant. The big tiger prawn and the Atlantic white shrimp are examples. The terms shrimp and prawn are used interchangeably, biologically there are differences. Many species are cultivated. Fish & Seafood
Sardine or pilchard are several species of small oily fish. Most commonly eaten canned in brine or grilled. Native to all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Scallops are found in all oceans. They are cultivated. All scallops are migratory which means they don´t burrow themselves but swim around. They have priced food. An interesting specie is the ocean quahog that can live to be over 400 years old! Fish & Seafood
Sea cucumbers are found in all oceans. They are readily eaten and very popular in East Asia. They are cultivated, mainly in China. Fish & Seafood
Sea lettuce (also aosa) is a species of edible green algae, it is growing in oceans. Traditionally eaten in China, Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and on the British Isles. Vegetables
Sea snails are part of a huge family that includes all land-dwelling species. The abalone is the most famous but many others are harvested and eaten throughout the world. Are found in all habitats including oceans and freshwater. Fish & Seafood
Sea urchin belongs to a big family called Echinoidea. Are found in all oceans and is a popular seafood. Fish & Seafood
Shrimp is a collective term for various species. They can live in fresh- or saltwater. Found all over the world. They are farmed in many places. Fish & Seafood
Slipper lobsters are a number of species found in all oceans. Sometimes called "bugs" since they resemble insects. Fish & Seafood
Snapper is several species, the most famous being red snapper. Are domestic in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Snow fungus (also silver ear) is another "jelly mushroom". It is native in most sub-tropical regions over the world. Mushrooms
Squat lobster is the name for a number of species. Found all over the world in saltwater. Fish & Seafood
Squid belong to a family called teuthida, Erranously they are often described as having 10 arms separating them from octopus, that is only true for some of them, most of them have 8 arms and two long tentacles. They are not as intelligent as octopus, they don´t have ink bladders. The biggest species are deep sea-dwelling and can weigh up to 500 kg. They are found in all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Sumac is a number of species that are native to temperate regions around the world. Both the fruits of this bush have culinary uses both as a spice and for others. Spices & Herbs
Juniper berry grows on junipers. Used in northern European cooking. Used to flavor gin. Spices & Herbs
Langust also called spiny lobster or rock lobster is a group of crustaceans related to the true lobster. They are found in warm waters in all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Mackerell is a collective name for a number of species, most of them of the "Scombridae" family. Mackerell found in around of temperate and tropical seas around the world. Include bonito and king mackerel. Fish & Seafood
Mantis shrimp is not a shrimp but belongs to another family of crustaceans. Found in oceans around the world, lives in warm water. Fish & Seafood
Mint (also mentha) is a generic term for various species, varieties, and hybrids of plants native to all continents except Antarctica. Examples are spearmint and hybrid peppermint. Many times used in candies but also to flavor meat. Not all plants that are called mints belong to this family. Spices & Herbs
Mussels are several species of clams that all have an almost oval shape. brown and blue mussels are common commercial species that are also cultivated. They thrive best in temperate waters, are native to all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Octopus is a group of mollusks that have eight arms. They are quite intelligent and commonly can use ink as a defence mechanism while fleeing. The larger species can have an arm span of over 4 meters and weigh up to 70kg. They are found in all oceans and are readily caught as food. Fish & Seafood
Oyster mushroom is a mushroom found throughout the world and largely cultivated. The origin is not defined. Mushrooms
Oysters are several species belonging to the Ostreidae family. Many are eaten by humans, raw or cooked. They are found in salt and semi-salt waters in all oceans. They are cultivated on a big scale. Fish & Seafood
Perch is a large family of fish containing among many others walleye and pike-perch. They are freshwater dwelling and found around the world. Fish & Seafood
Prawn is a collective name for various species that can be salt- or freshwater dwellers. Found in all oceans, few are commercially fished in Europe where shrimp are dominant. The big tiger prawn and the Atlantic white shrimp are examples. The terms shrimp and prawn are used interchangeably, biologically there are differences. Many species are cultivated. Fish & Seafood
Sardine or pilchard are several species of small oily fish. Most commonly eaten canned in brine or grilled. Native to all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Scallops are found in all oceans. They are cultivated. All scallops are migratory which means they don´t burrow themselves but swim around. They have priced food. An interesting specie is the ocean quahog that can live to be over 400 years old! Fish & Seafood
Sea cucumbers are found in all oceans. They are readily eaten and very popular in East Asia. They are cultivated, mainly in China. Fish & Seafood
Sea lettuce (also aosa) is a species of edible green algae, it is growing in oceans. Traditionally eaten in China, Japan, Korea, Scandinavia and on the British Isles. Vegetables
Sea snails are part of a huge family that includes all land-dwelling species. The abalone is the most famous but many others are harvested and eaten throughout the world. Are found in all habitats including oceans and freshwater. Fish & Seafood
Sea urchin belongs to a big family called Echinoidea. Are found in all oceans and is a popular seafood. Fish & Seafood
Shrimp is a collective term for various species. They can live in fresh- or saltwater. Found all over the world. They are farmed in many places. Fish & Seafood
Slipper lobsters are a number of species found in all oceans. Sometimes called "bugs" since they resemble insects. Fish & Seafood
Snapper is several species, the most famous being red snapper. Are domestic in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Snow fungus (also silver ear) is another "jelly mushroom". It is native in most sub-tropical regions over the world. Mushrooms
Squat lobster is the name for a number of species. Found all over the world in saltwater. Fish & Seafood
Squid belong to a family called teuthida, Erranously they are often described as having 10 arms separating them from octopus, that is only true for some of them, most of them have 8 arms and two long tentacles. They are not as intelligent as octopus, they don´t have ink bladders. The biggest species are deep sea-dwelling and can weigh up to 500 kg. They are found in all oceans. Fish & Seafood
Sumac is a number of species that are native to temperate regions around the world. Both the fruits of this bush have culinary uses both as a spice and for others. Spices & Herbs
Tilefish is a name for several species, important for commercial fishing. Domestic in temperate waters around the world. Fish & Seafood
Truffles this legendary culinary mushroom is a type of a "tuber mushroom". Several hundred species are found all over the world. Cultivation has been in practice since the 19th century, they grow on certain tree roots, however, creating host trees has not been successful. Mushrooms
Tuna are several species of fish belonging to the Scombridae family. Very important commercial fish, several species are endangered. Domestic to all oceans, generally in temperate and tropical waters. I have recently started to be bred commercially. Fish & Seafood
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