|
1500 AD |
Red Pepper (Capsicum Annum) introduced to Europe from
‘New World’. |
|
1509 AD |
Allspice, so called because its berries are thought to
taste like a combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper, is
discovered by the Spanish in Jamiaca. |
|
1510 AD |
Portuguese gain control of Goa. |
|
1511 - 14 AD |
The Portuguese take control of the Malabar coast, Java
and Sumatra and successfully capture the Moluccan nutmeg trade. |
|
1519 AD |
Mexico conquered by Hernan Cortes. Spanish take pigs,
chickens, cattle, cereals, vegetables, olive oil, sugar cane, citrus
fruits and wine to Mexico. Ferdinand Magellan sets out from Spain and
finds nutmegs growing on the Indonesian island of Tidore. Magellan is
killed in the Phillipines, but the solitary ship that does make it
back safely from the expedition is laden with a cargo of nutmegs,
mace, cinnamon and sandalwood. |
|
1520 AD |
Tomato brought to Spain from Peru or Mexico. |
|
1526 AD |
Babur’s Mughal Empire is started. He dies in 1530
and is replaced by his son, Akbar. |
|
1535 AD |
Pineapple comes from South America to Europe. |
|
1536 AD |
The Portuguese occupy Ceylon.The potato is discovered
by Jiminez de Quesada in Peru. |
|
1559 AD |
Tea first mentioned in Europe. |
|
1579 AD |
Sir Francis Drakes presents Elizabeth I with a gift of cloves. |
|
1586 AD |
Potato comes to Britain from Mexico, via Virginia.
Ginger plantations established by the end of 16th century by the
Spanish in the West Indies. |
|
1599 AD |
East India Company is founded by the English in order
to break the Portuguese and Dutch monopoly. |
|
1600 AD |
Coffee introduced to Europe. |
|
1602 AD |
The Dutch East India Company is founded in order to
found a Dutch empire in Asia. |
|
1605 - 1621 AD |
The Dutch succeed in driving the Portuguese out of the
Spice Islands. |
|
1608 AD |
First British ship arruves at Surat for East India Company |
|
1612 AD |
English establish first trading post in India. |
|
1636 AD |
The Dutch capture Ceylon (Sri Lanka). |
|
1651 AD |
The Dutch now control the clove nutmeg and
cinnamon trade and forbid the uncontrolled planting of spices under
pain of death. |
|
1657 AD |
First tea reaches London. |
|
1700 AD |
Vegetables become true dishes rather than just
garnishes. Salads become popular. |
|
1757 AD |
Last Nawab of Bengal dies at Battle of Plessey |
|
1765AD |
The word 'restaurant' in its modern context introduced
by Boulanger. |
|
1770 AD |
Pierre Poivre, the French Governor of Mauritius,
smuggles clove, nutmeg and cinnamon cuttings out of the Spice Islands
and establishes a plantation in Réunion, the Seychelles and
other French colonies. |
|
1773 AD |
Curry appears on the menu for the first time in
Britain at a Coffee House in Norris Street, London. |
|
1776 AD |
The first French cloves are harvested and plants reach
the English colonies. |
|
1780 AD |
First commercial curry powder on sale |
|
1795 AD |
The first non-Indian pepper cargo sets out from Salem.
Boston, Portsmouth, Bath and New London become major spice ports. |
|
1820 AD |
Calcutta created as British capital in India. |
|
1824 AD |
The Dutch and the British sign a treaty which divides
up all the spice growing regions between them. |
|
1826 AD |
Modern matches created. |
|
1835 AD |
Vanilla, originally from South America, is grown in India. |
|
1840 AD |
Confectionary eating chocolate invented. |
|
1843 AD |
Nutmegs planted on Grenada. |
|
1857AD |
The Indian Mutiny and British troops, women and
children were massacred in Delhi, Cawnapore and Lucknow. Order
restored in mid-1858. |
|
1859-61AD |
Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management is published. |
|
1900 AD |
Charles Candler brings Coca Cola to Britain. |
|
1907 AD |
Lyons’ Coventry Street Corner House opens in
London, eventually to cater for 4,000 covers. |
|
1912 AD |
Lyons’ Strand Corner House opens in London. |
|
1914 - 18 AD |
First World War |
|
1931 AD |
First commercial yoghurt created (Danone). |
|
1933 AD |
Maison Lyons opens near Marble Arch, London, seating 2,000. |
|
1939 - 45 AD |
Second World War |
|
1940 AD |
Sugar, butter and bacon rationed in Britain. |
|
1946 AD |
Bread rationed in Britain until 1948. |
|
1947 AD |
Indpendence for India and Pakistan (August 15th) |
|
1948 AD |
First tandoor in a restaurant used in Moti Mahal in
New Delhi |
|
1949 AD |
Sweet rationing in Britain ends temporarily. |
|
1954 AD |
War-time rationing of goods in Britain comes to an end. |
|
1967 AD |
Asians expelled from Kenya |
|
1971 AD |
Independence for Bangladesh (26th March) |
|
1972 AD |
Asians expelled from Uganda |
|
1974 AD |
Turkish invasion of Cyprus. |
|
1997 AD |
Hong Kong handed back to China. |
