Popcorn

[kelly_sadler]

How was popcorn discovered?

[Dingoeater]

Well the oldest popped corn ever found was in a cave in New Mexico and is about 5600 years old so obviously no one is exactly sure. However, I imagine the discovery came about by accident. No doubt some Native Americans were eating some corn when a kernel or two fell near the fire then dried out and went pop. Possibly then they were brave enough to taste it (no doubt after brushing the ash off) and found it agreeable. Then, conceivably they rushed off to invent butter and toffee.

[Bohne]

That is a question I have asked myself hundreds of times...
Together with:
How to prepare olives to make them edible (they are disgusting straight of the tree)?
How was beer discovered?
How was coffee discovered?

Basically anything that doesn't come straight off a plant/animal...

some of our ancestors must have been real inventive...

[heathfield]

There's tons of stuff that's matured, fermented, fomented, etc, that we eat nowadays. I guess in times of famine it's necessity and sheer desperation that have lead the way.

[nickmo]

Like, who discovered pigs taste of bacon...