The homeland of popcorn it is considered to be the American continent. Aboriginals of America – Indians - for the first time acquainted noblemen with this unusual species of corn. There was this significant event on Thanksgiving Day when they presented popcorn as a gift to colonists of the State of Massachusetts. Popcorn and to the great traveler Christopher Columbus who delivered fashion for the blowing-up corn to Europe pleased. It was in the fifteenth century.
The blowing-up corn
The word "popcorn" came from two English "ror" (cotton) and "corn" - corn. Popcorn – a grade of corn which under certain conditions – heating on fire or in the microwave oven – blows up. This process is possible not always but only at certain ratios in corn grain of starch and water. If to put capacity with such corn on fire, then after a while the water which is contained in corn begins to begin to boil and to evaporate gradually. As a result of inside grain pressure, and after a while the tight bran coating serving as peculiar "armor" increases, the ferry is filled and explodes. At the same time grain as if is turned out outside.
Delicacy of Americans
Popcorn won love among Americans several millennia ago. Ancient Indian manuscripts narrate that the tribes inhabiting New Mexico very much liked to regale on popcorn. Her Indians quite simply prepared. They filled up corn with hot sand or ashes and waited when it begins to blow up. Later, Americans began "blow up" corn grains in special pottery with a small opening in a cover. The jug or a bowl were put on fire and watched closely process. In such a way popcorn was made to the middle of the nineteenth century.
In 1885 in Chicago the first car on production of the blowing-up corn was invented. Charles Kretor became "author" of the wonderful car. Thanks to its invention and its embodiment in reality, now popcorn it was possible to do practically in any place. The car which received the name "Popper" was equipped with wheels and freely moved on city streets therefore to buy the popcorn which is fallen in love by much it was possible also on busy streets, and at visit of zoos, and near movie theaters. Now in the USA popcorn is national food which has even the holiday in the calendar. The Day of popcorn is celebrated on January 19.
Instead of ornament
Popcorn is not only food. At Indians of the tribe of the Maya the seeds of the blown-up corn acted as jewelry. Did a beads, necklaces, bracelets of them. Women who wanted to look the most attractive among the relatives used popcorn too. For this purpose they took a small corncob and placed it in fire. When there was an explosion, corn was pulled out. Then the turned-out "flower" was interwoven into hair. About love of Indians for popcorn it is possible to judge also by their cultural past. For example, the archeologists studying ancient burials in the territory of Mexico City found a figurine of one goddess which head was decorated by a wreath from the revealed corn. Age of a figurine – more than 300 years B.C. Scope of popcorn was quite diverse. For example, some trading companies that during swimming to save light, fragile cargo from rodents and blows, placed it in packings with popcorn. However at the same time they received absolutely opposite result: tasty corn, on the contrary, allured rats and mice. Besides, production of popcorn was much more expensive than synthetic packings. And it was difficult to call popcorn safe as it easily ignited even from the slightest spark.
Popcorn for cinema
At most of people popcorn is associated with visit of movie theater. And it isn't accidental. In 1912 at the American movie theaters for the first time began to sell popcorn which I enjoyed such unusual popularity among the audience that income from realization of popcorn considerably surpassed the profit got from sales of tickets for film sessions. But not all movie theaters put income on the first place. At least, the British network Picturehouse Cinema made concessions of clients whom the crunch of corn distracted from the events which are taking place on the screen. For this purpose once a week the evening session took place in silence. At this time sale of popcorn wasn't allowed. How many the film network lost at the same time means, isn't mentioned. Today everything occurs differently: movie theaters sell corn from which the audience has a feeling of thirst. The mug - another of beer which can be bought immediately helps to satisfy it. As a result the movie theater gets additional profit on realization of drinks.
With the advent of television many movie theaters appeared on the verge of bankruptcy, sales of popcorn were sharply reduced at this time too.
Popcorn and health
There is a number of opinions on influence of popcorn on health. For example, Madonna assures that only popcorn helped it to shape up after the delivery. Also popcorn is used during diets. It is considered that popcorn contains cellulose which well affects digestion and considerably reduces risk of development of cancer of stomach, rectum and cardiovascular diseases. It as for popcorn pluses. However it has also a number of bad points. For example, the fragrance added to oil for preparation of popcorn diacetyl can become the reason of development of an allergy and diseases of lungs.
Children up to four years aren't recommended to give popcorn because of an opportunity to choke.
Popcorn – "father" of the microwave
In 1945 the inventor Percy Spencer revealed the impact of microwave on ability of corn to blow up. Having made a number of experiments with various products, Spencer scientifically confirmed that microwaves can heat food. And in 1946 he acquired the patent for production of the invention. With emergence on counters of microwave ovens some Americans began to make house popcorn. And such corn began to cost much less.
Popcorn by means of mobile
It is possible to find video on which several people show in network as by means of the mobile phone it is possible to make popcorn. They put several corn grains in the center, surrounded them with phones and began to call each other. In a few minutes an experiment corn grains began to explode. However at similar actions, but already in other video, it wasn't succeeded to repeat experiment. So so far operation of the cell phone on process of preparation of popcorn in house conditions isn't proved.