History of avocado during ancient time

Avocado pear Persea Americana is a native to Central America, but now grown in tropical and subtropical countries of the world. The Aztecs called the avocado ‘ahuacatl’, the Spanish called it ‘aguacati’ and the English called it ‘avocado’.

Seed remains found in ancient human settlements in the Tehuacan Valley suggest that the avocado could have been used as early as 8000-7000 BC and possibly domesticated at least 5000 BC by Mesoamerican groups.

The Toltec and Mayan civilizations disappeared nearly ten centuries ago, yet among their ruins wild and domestic avocados are found growing side by side. In ancient times in the America, avocado was used to replace meat because it contains all the nutrients in meat.

The Mayan Indian people and Aztec Indian people were eating avocados for more than two thousand years. The Aztecs Indians mixed them with peppers and hot spices.

Mayan, Aztec and also Olmec cultures praised avocado as one of the ‘gift of God’. Aztec and Man cultures used decocts of avocado seeds as a potent agent to treat mycotic and parasitic infections. They are used also against diabetes.

The prehistoric fruit was under cultivation in North, South and Central Americas for thousands of years. From there, avocado dispersed to Europe and the rest of the world.
History of avocado during ancient time 

The Origin of Avocado

Avocados are the chief ingredient in "guacamole". The Aztec depended on the avocado as a staple in their diet and gave it a name based on the fact that its shape is similar to the male anatomy – ‘ahuacatl’ or ‘testicles.’

The fruit was early recorded in Mayan and Aztec picture writing from 290 BC.

It was first recorded in English in 1697. The English name of avocado, is a modification of the Spanish name, ‘aguacate’ or ‘ahuacate’ which derived from the word ‘ahuacatl’.

Avocados are also referred to as the Alligator Pear because of there shape and leathery skin.

Avocados are the fruit from a tall evergreen tree called the Persea Americana, there are many different varieties of avocado and they generally fit into three main categories, the West Indian, the Guatemalan and the Mexican which all differ in size and flavour.

Domestication and selection of this crop have gone on in Mexico for a period of 10,000 years. Ancestors of cultivated avocados were utilized as a food by hunter gatherer as early as 8000 BC.

The Spanish invaders reported finding avocados growing from northern Mexico though Central America and down into South America, where they had been cultivated since 8000 BC.

Avocado were then introduced to Jamaica sometime in the mid seventeenth century. When the English arrived in Jamaica, they called the avocado alligator pear.

They are not introduced to the United States until the early 20th century, when they were first planted in California and Florida.
The Origin of Avocado