The Dark History of the Potato: From the Devil’s Fruit to the Savior of the Table

Would you believe that the French fries on your dinner table tonight hide a history of blood and tears, when the potato was once called the ‘Devil’s Plant’ and caused the death of a quarter of a nation’s population?

• Why potatoes were called the ‘Devil’s Plant’ in early European history
• How an absolute monarch and a pharmacist cleverly spread the potato
• The real cause of the Irish Potato Famine and the terrifying dangers of monoculture

Chapter 1: The Devil’s Apple — The Dark History of the Potato’s Arrival in Europe

Discovered by Spanish conquistadors in the Inca Empire in the 16th century, the potato faced cold hatred and deep fear rather than welcome upon its arrival in Europe. This was the beginning of the potato’s dark history.

Why It Became an Object of Hatred and Fear

The reasons Europeans despised the potato were complex.

First, the biggest issue was that it was a ‘crop not mentioned in the Bible.’ In an era when the Bible was absolute truth, any plant not referenced was considered blasphemous.

Second, unlike sacred wheat that grew toward the sky, the potato grew underground in dark, damp soil and was treated as unclean and impure. Its knobby, dark appearance provoked disgust and earned it the dreadful nickname ‘Devil’s Fruit.’

The Shadow of Leprosy and Death: The Truth About Solanine

Fear of the potato spread into a horrific superstition that it caused leprosy (Hansen’s disease). This was partly because the potato’s knobby shape reminded people of the bodies of the diseased.

However, there was a grain of truth in this myth. Potato sprouts and green parts exposed to sunlight contain the toxic substance ‘solanine.’ Early Europeans, unaware of proper cooking methods, ate these parts and suffered food poisoning, which fueled the unstoppable belief that ‘potatoes are poison.’

This fear peaked in France when potatoes were put on trial by the Inquisition and burned at the stake like witches. This episode shows how societal fear of the unknown can spiral into madness.

Chapter 2: The Great Deception by a King and a Scholar Who Tamed the Potato

How did the potato, once the devil’s crop, conquer European tables? Behind this were two great figures who understood public psychology.

Frederick the Great, the Potato King of Prussia

In the 18th century, Frederick II of Prussia, plagued by frequent wars and famine, saw the future of his country in the potato, which grew well even in poor soil.

But faced with strong resistance from his people, he devised a brilliant plan instead of using force. “From now on, potatoes are a noble vegetable only for royalty and nobles!” He planted potatoes on royal farms guarded by elite soldiers. However, he secretly ordered them to loosen the guard at night.

By making potatoes a ‘forbidden food only for the king,’ they quickly became coveted. People stole potatoes at night to plant in their own fields. Thanks to this reverse psychology marketing, potatoes spread throughout Prussia and became the key to ending famine. Later, people honored him as the ‘Potato King’ by offering potatoes instead of flowers at his grave.

Antoine-Augustin Parmentier, France’s PR Expert

In France, army pharmacist Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was the potato’s evangelist. Based on his experience surviving on potatoes while a prisoner of war, he devoted his life to promoting the potato.

His strategy was much more sophisticated.

• Royal branding: He presented potato flowers to King Louis XVI, who had them decorate Queen Marie Antoinette’s dress. Potato flowers became the top fashion item in Parisian high society.
• Celebrity marketing: He hosted lavish dinners featuring only potato dishes, inviting famous figures like Benjamin Franklin and Antoine Lavoisier.

After instilling the idea that ‘potatoes are sophisticated food’ among the elite, he spread potatoes to the public using a ’loose guard’ strategy similar to Frederick the Great.

Comparison: The Great Potato Evangelists

These two men succeeded in changing the perception of the ‘devil’s crop’ with very different strategies. This is historical proof of how the story around a product is as decisive as the product itself for public acceptance.

Chapter 3: Hell Created by a Single Crop — The Irish Potato Famine

While the potato saved the European continent, in Ireland it became the seed of one of history’s most horrific tragedies. The Irish Potato Famine was not just a natural disaster but a massive man-made catastrophe caused by a people’s reliance on a single crop and imperial greed.

Ireland’s Fate Dependent on the Potato

In 19th-century British-ruled Ireland, all profitable crops like wheat and corn were exported to Britain. Poor tenant farmers had no choice but to rely on potatoes, especially the vulnerable monoculture variety called ‘Lumper.’

The Invisible Enemy: Potato Blight Attack

In 1845, a fungus-like organism called potato blight (‘Phytophthora infestans’) arrived from America and devastated Ireland. The genetically identical ‘Lumper’ potatoes were defenseless and rotted rapidly.

Man-Made Disaster: British Exploitation

The real tragedy was not the blight itself. Even amid the hellish famine, the British government deployed troops to ship other harvested grains from Ireland to Britain. They refused market intervention under the doctrine of ’laissez-faire’ economics and mocked victims as ’lazy Irish.’ This was more than policy failure—it was close to massacre.

As a result, over 1 million people starved to death and more than 2 million emigrated over about seven years. The blight was the trigger, but the gun was the British colonial system itself.

Chapter 4: The Modern Dark History of the Potato — Enemy of Health?

After centuries of saving humanity from famine, the potato has written a new dark chapter in the age of abundance as the symbol of junk food.

The Paradox of Golden Fries: The Stigma of Junk Food

Today, French fries are blamed as a major cause of obesity and adult diseases. Fried in oil and salted, potatoes become high-fat, high-calorie foods. Especially problematic is the potential formation of the carcinogenic substance ‘acrylamide’ when fried at high temperatures.

Clearing the Potato’s Name: The Problem Is Cooking

In fact, this is not the potato’s fault. All blame should be directed at cooking methods. When returned to its natural form—steamed or baked—the potato is a treasure trove of nutrients. A medium potato has only 110 calories, no fat or cholesterol, and contains over 30% of the daily recommended vitamin C and more potassium than a banana.

Checklist: How to Enjoy Potatoes Healthily

The modern dark history of the potato stems from improper cooking. Remember these three tips to enjoy potatoes healthily:

1. Steam or bake instead of frying: Minimize oil and salt to retain the potato’s natural nutrition.
2. Remove sprouts and green parts completely: The toxic solanine does not disappear with heat, so cut deeply into these areas.
3. Eat with the skin: Nutrients are abundant in the skin, so wash thoroughly and cook with the skin on.

Conclusion

From the devil’s plant to famine’s savior, and now the villain of health, the turbulent history of the potato leaves us important lessons.

• Superstition and Fear: Early European fear of the potato shows how cultural anxiety about the unknown can turn into madness.
• Dangers of Monoculture: The Irish Potato Famine warns how monoculture, driven by profit and efficiency, destroys biodiversity with deadly consequences. This warning applies today to the banana industry’s reliance on the ‘Cavendish’ variety.
• Context Matters: The value of the potato is not absolute; depending on cooking methods and historical context, it can be both savior and enemy.

Every potato on your plate carries these stories. Next time you see a potato, remember the lessons of history it holds. Why not also take an interest in the history of other foods you eat every day?