National Carrot Cake Day in the USA (03/02)

On February 3, Americans celebrate the next culinary holiday — National Carrot Cake Day. This may seem like a joke, but in the USA a dish using carrots has its own holiday.

It is known that this root vegetable has been cultivated in the world for four thousand years, and they began to grow it in Afghanistan, and today more than 60 varieties of carrots have been bred. Moreover, at first it was grown not for the sake of the root vegetable, but for the sake of aromatic leaves and seeds, which were added to food and used as a medicine. The first mention of the consumption of carrot root is found in ancient sources in the 1st century.

Carrots were brought to Europe around the 10th-13th centuries, and a little later they came to America. In Rus', dishes using carrots are found in publications of «Domostroy» of the 16th century. Today, this root vegetable continues to be one of the most popular vegetables of Russian cuisine and is one of the ten main economically important vegetable crops in the world.

After all, carrot fruits are used not only raw and in the preparation of main dishes, but also as a seasoning — spice — in marinades, canned food, candied fruits, liqueur-filling and confectionery production. Carrot juice and carotene are obtained from carrots. By the way, according to the EU directive, carrots — are both a fruit and a vegetable at the same time.

Today's holiday — is a great reason to please yourself and friends with this delicious dessert (Photo: nata_vkusidey, licensed by depositphotos.com)

As for the « hero of the occasion», carrot cake also has a long history — similar desserts were prepared in Europe back in the Middle Ages. Due to the large amount of sugar contained in carrots, it began to be used in baking as an affordable sweetener (sugar was then an expensive product, especially for ordinary people). So, according to history, carrot cake (English «carrot cake») appeared, which today has become one of the favorite American desserts.

By the way, Carrot cake gained its greatest popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, when mass trends towards a healthy lifestyle and reduced sugar consumption began in the United States. Since then he has not lost ground. Carrot cake « is believed to be healthier» than traditional American cake with butter, whipped cream and sugar, since it contains — grated carrots as the main ingredient. In addition, nuts and raisins are often added to it. Carrot cake cream is traditionally made from cream cheese rather than butter, which adds a unique taste to it.

Therefore, carrot cake does not go out of fashion. Haven't you tried it yet? Today's holiday — is a great reason to rejoice at yourself and your friends with this delicious dessert.



Postcard «3 February — Carrot cake day» Article «Best carrot cake recipes» Story «Carrot cake»

1667