chaper 2 - food tech

unit 1

What is a cuisine?

Cuisine is the style of cooking that reflects the characteristics of a specific country or geographic region.

What does culture mean?

Culture refers to the shared or learned patterns of behaviour or identity of a group of people.

What is the Fertile Crescent?

The Fertile Crescent is a crescent-shaped region of fertile land in the east of the Mediterranean Sea.
It forms a ‘bridge’ between Africa and Eurasia.

What is a food system?

• Food grown on the farm

• Transport to processors

• Delivery to retailers

• Reaching the consumer’s plate at home or in restaurants

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the Muslim month of prayer and fasting.
Muslims fast each day from sunrise to sunset during this month.

How does food reflect culture?

Food is part of daily life, survival, religion, memory, social identity, and customs.

What is the role of cuisine in culture?

It shows the style, ingredients, and cooking techniques of a region, often shaped by geography and history.

What influences Ethiopian cuisine?

Geography, religion, limited foreign influence, and spice trading.

What are common ingredients in Ethiopian cooking?

Teff, barley, oats, sorghum, game meat, lentils, spices (berbere), and niter kibbeh (spiced butter).

What is a traditional Ethiopian meal like?

Eaten with the right hand from a communal plate; includes dishes like wat (spicy stew), injera (teff bread), and tibs (sautéed meat/veg).

How does religion affect food in Ethiopia?

Tewahedo Christians fast on Wednesdays & Fridays, eating vegetarian meals. Pork is avoided by all major religions.

What crops and animals were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent?

Wheat, barley, lentils, flax, chickpeas; animals like cows, goats, sheep, pigs.

How did the Fertile Crescent support early agriculture?

Fertile river valleys and irrigation helped grow crops and support farming communities.

What are some traditional Lebanese dishes?

Falafel, kibbeh, baba ghanoush, hummus, tabbouleh, flatbread, manoush.

What is A1 Bakery?

A Lebanese bakery and grocery store opened in 1992 in Brunswick, known for bread, pies, and Middle Eastern foods.

What is the Mediterranean region?

Countries around the Mediterranean Sea including Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, and others.

How did Mediterranean agriculture develop?

Around 1000 BCE with crops like wheat, barley, legumes, and domesticated animals.

What influenced Spanish food culture?

Phoenicians (olives), Greeks (grains), Romans (preservation), Moors (spices), and explorers (new foods from the Americas).

Name 3 food items introduced to Spain from the Americas.

Tomatoes, potatoes, chocolate.

What is Spain’s climate and geography like?

Warm summers and cool mild winters; droughts in summer, high rainfall in winter. Ideal for growing olives and grapes. The Pyrenees Mountains have rich soils, key to agriculture.

How has religion influenced food in Spain?

Roman Catholic Church became dominant in 1400s, introducing fasting. Today, religions include Islam, Judaism, Protestantism, and Hinduism.

What are some traditional Spanish foods?

Olive oil, paella, gazpacho, jamon serrano, churros.

What is the typical Spanish meal structure?

Light breakfast (coffee + pastry), main lunch 2–4pm (salad, soup, meat/fish, dessert), siesta, light dinner around 9pm (salad/tapas).

What is Eurasia?

A large landmass of Europe and Asia with over 100 countries, including Greece, India, Indonesia, Italy, and more.

What percentage of the world’s population lives in Eurasia?

70%.

How did the Roman Empire influence agriculture?

Used produce for trade; grew wheat, barley, millet, legumes, fruits; raised cows, sheep, goats.

How did the Greeks influence food production in the 5th century CE?

Developed crop rotation; shifted from family farms to large estates.

What is India’s population and geography like?

Over 1.4 billion people. Borders many countries. Rich soils from Himalayas support agriculture.

What early crops were grown in India?

Wheat, legumes, oranges (6th century BCE); rice, tea, bananas (3000 BCE); barley, mangoes (4th century BCE).

What cultural groups influenced Indian cuisine?

Aryans introduced cumin, coriander; Mughals introduced spices, nuts, chickpea flour, rosewater.

How do religion and climate shape Indian food?

Hinduism (vegetarianism), Jainism (strict veg), Sikhs (some veg). North India is temperate, South is hotter; rivers allow irrigation.

What are traditional Indian meals like?

3–4 meals/day, eaten with fingers; rice, curries, chapati (North), rice (South). Meals influenced by local religion and climate.

What are key regional food traits?

• North: Breads (naan, roti), ghee, creamy dishes, warm spices, tandoori.

• Central: Veg dishes, rice, cumin, coriander, fish on coast.

• South: Veg + rice-based meals, spicy, coconut milk, lentils, papadums.

Which countries are in East Asia and Oceania?

East Asia: China, Japan, Korea, etc. Oceania: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, PNG, Polynesia, etc.

What crops were first cultivated in East Asia?

Rice (800 BCE), millet/wheat (600 BCE), rice introduced to Korea (400 BCE).

What early crops were grown in Oceania?

Taro (11,000 BCE), bananas/sugarcane (6500 BCE).

What is Japan’s geography and farming like?

600 islands, 70% mountainous, terraced farming. North is cooler; South is subtropical (ideal for rice).

What early crops were grown in Japan?

Millet (400 BCE), rice from Korea (2500 BCE), soybeans, barley, peaches, persimmons.

Which cultures influenced Japanese cuisine?

Korea (rice), China (chopsticks, tofu, soy sauce), Portugal (tempura), Dutch (potatoes, corn).

What religions influence Japanese food?

Buddhism (vegan/vegetarian), Shinto (no meat).

What is Japan’s traditional meal structure?

• Breakfast: Miso soup, rice, fish/egg

• Lunch: Bento or noodle dish

• Dinner: Main meal like teriyaki
  Meals use chopsticks, feature fresh, seasonal ingredients and six flavors.

Key Japanese foods?

Rice, miso, soba/udon noodles, fresh fish, soy sauce, tofu, pickles, gyoza, seaweed, daikon.

What regions make up The Americas?

North, Central, South America + Caribbean.

What were some early crops grown in the Americas?

• South: Potatoes, quinoa, lima beans (5000 BCE)

• Central: Corn, chili, cocoa (4000 BCE)

• North: Corn, squash, sunflower (3500–2500 BCE)

What are Peru’s early agricultural practices?

River valley farming. Grew corn, quinoa, potatoes. Domesticated llamas/alpacas.

What was the Inca contribution to agriculture?

Built terraced farms, irrigation, and food storage systems.

What did the Spanish introduce to Peru in 1532 CE?

Meats (chicken, lamb, pork), new crops (wheat, barley, beans).

Describe Peru’s geography and climate.

Tropical with wet/dry seasons. The Amazon rainforest isn’t suited for large-scale agriculture.

What is the typical Peruvian meal structure?

• Breakfast (desayuno): Bread, ham/jam or boiled corn

• Lunch (almuerzo): Soup, avocado/chilli; main meal

• Dinner (cena): Late, based on corn/potatoes

Traditional Peruvian ingredients?

Potatoes, quinoa, corn, rice, beans, fish, herbs (mint, oregano), chilli, guinea pig.

What are the benefits of domesticating animals for early agricultural communities?

Provided a sustainable food supply, access to protein, milk for feeding infants, animal power for farming and transport, and job/trade opportunities.

How did the domestication of animals contribute to a sustainable food supply?

Domesticated animals provided reliable sources of protein through meat and dairy, helping ensure food security.

Why was milk production from domesticated animals important?

Milk could be used to feed infants, improving child survival rates in early agricultural societies.

How did domesticated animals support economic and social development?

Animals could be farmed and traded, creating job opportunities and supporting the development of organized societies.

In what ways were animals used beyond food production?

They were used for farming tasks (e.g., pulling ploughs), transporting goods, and increasing agricultural efficiency.

What traits made animals suitable for domestication?

Animals with mild temperaments, that matured quickly, didn’t threaten humans, and could eat grass, were preferred.

What made cereal grains valuable to early agricultural communities?

Grains could be dried, crushed into flour, and stored; they were rich in protein, fibre, and carbohydrates.

What are some fruits and vegetables cultivated by early agricultural communities?

Dates, grapes, watermelon, lentils, peas, chickpeas, cucumbers, eggplants, melons, figs, and leeks.

What is the Fertile Crescent?

A semi-circular area of fertile land east of the Mediterranean Sea, forming a “bridge” between Africa and Eurasia.

Which modern countries are part of the Fertile Crescent?

Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.

Why is the Fertile Crescent important in the history of agriculture?

It’s where early agriculture began, including the development of irrigation systems and domestication of animals.

How do cultures influence food practices?

Culture shapes identity, religion, social behaviour, and food traditions, influencing what people grow, cook, and eat.

What is a cuisine?

A style of cooking specific to a region or country, influenced by local ingredients, traditions, and techniques.

How do cuisines develop over time?

Cuisines evolve through the use of local ingredients, trade, climate, religion, and cultural traditions, forming unique food identities.

Why is food an important part of culture?

It supports survival, expresses generosity and tradition, and connects people through shared meals and memories.