The history and origin of the beloved Pasta
Soft and piping hot spools dipped in a fusion of flavours – That’s pasta for you. Do you wonder where this devouring dish was first cooked?
Italy has been widely believed to be the origin of pasta according to several people. But there are some people who have been convinced for years that Marco Polo brought it back from the east. Noodles have existed in China and Asia long before pasta appeared in the Mediterranean world in 3000 BC. The legend goes that Marco Polo brought pasta to Italy in the 13th century from China. While people stand divided about pasta’s history of origin, they are united by its universal appeal. According to some, the roots of Pasta can be traced back as far as the 4th century B.C. This is because an Etruscan tomb from that era shows a group of natives making pasta. Some historians say that pasta originated from an Arab meal called ‘Itriyya’ in the 7th century BC when they occupied Sicily.
At the beginning of the 17th century, rudimentary machines were used to produce pasta in Naples, later establishing the kneading machine and press, making pasta manufacturing cost-effective. In 1740, a licence for the first pasta factory was issued in Venice. During the 1800s, stone grinders were used in the pasta making process. This initiated the expansion of the pasta market. Nowadays, most pasta is made from common wheat. The art of pasta making and the devotion to the food as a whole has evolved since pasta was first conceptualised in Italy.
In the modern era, pasta is made from an unleavened dough of wheat flour mixed with water or eggs. The traditional pasta is first formed into sheets or other shapes and then cooked by boiling or baking. While it is known for its diversity of shapes, it is equally popular for the rich flavoursome array of sauces it is usually served with. Today one can opt to have a bowl of piping hot pasta at a restaurant, cook pasta at home from scratch or just get a packet of ready to cook pasta and indulge in it on a busy day.
Pasta has a lot of variety such as penne, spaghetti, ravioli, linguine, rigatoni, farfalle, fusilli and cannelloni. Spaghetti is perhaps one of the most popular pasta types in the world. Spaghetti consists of long, thin noodles which can be paired with a wide variety of sauces. Spaghetti has become a mainstay of modern cuisine culture and even pop culture. This is because it is a food that gives cooks the freedom to experiment and invent with a variety of fresh ingredients, spices and toppings. Spaghetti used to be very long but a shorter length became popular during the latter half of the 20th century. Today, most spaghetti is about 10–12 inches in length. The most popular story about the origin of Spaghetti is that it has existed since the Roman Empire, but the history of its invention is not entirely clear. It is therefore probable that the birth and spread of spaghetti date back to the mediaeval period. It is, however, only in 1819 that the term spaghetti appeared for the first time in the dictionary of the Italian language. This is also the period in which this dish became a staple food of the popular and traditional cuisine of Naples. A fun fact about spaghetti is that Italian immigrants made spaghetti and meatballs very trendy in New York since they had more access to meat in New York than in Italy. Some of the most interesting pasta recipes include spaghetti bolognese, fettuccine alfredo, pesto, pasta with sundried tomatoes and the very dearly loved lasagne. So, get off this reading this blog and satiate your taste buds by bringing home a pack of your favourite Agastya pasta. Our range is versatile and ready to satisfy your pasta cravings. Happy pasta time to you!
