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Athough when we say “macaroni”, it evokes Italy, it is said
that macaroni had been invented in China. Even in Italy in which has the
higgest consumption of macaroni, it is claimed that macaroni was brought to
Italy from China by 14th century explorer Marco Polo. Certainly, this claim
is rejected by Italians. It is known that macaroni was invented in China in
1th century and between the years 980- 1280, its popularity was increasing
and private macaroni markets were openned during the Kingdom of King Sung.
The Italians on the other hand, show as evidence the tools
found in an Etruscan tomb, possibly used for pasta making and claim that the
Etruscans (7th- 3rd century BC) have first invented the pasta. It has been
believed the Etruscans have obtained the recipe of macaroni from the Greeks
who used to cut dough in strips and call it "laganon", the word probably
forming the origin of "lasagna". Italians maintain that Marco Polo has
mentioned of the Chinese eating macaroni, for he was rather startled to see
this food also popular so far away from Italy. The Italian writers Lacopone
da Todi and Boccacio, also from the 14th century, have mentioned macaroni,
lasagna and ravioli in their books, which is a clear indication that these
foods have already existed in those times. Records show that in the year
1200, macaroni-like food called "rishta" was commonly consumed in the Middle
East. The same food was called "sevika" in India and "ıtriyah" by the Arabs.
All three names mean thread in the local languages. Even a recipe of "rishta"
dating 1226 has been recovered in Baghdad. The Italians call the long, thin
macaroni "spaghetti" which derives from the word "spago", meaning thread and
this supports the theory attributing the macaroni to the east.
Today, "macaroni" is a special name of a pasta type, yet
earlier macaroni has meant pasta in general. There are several questionable
theories on the derivation of the word, but the real origin is simply
unknown. The Italians have preferred to call it "pasta", meaning “dough”
although Turkish people have remained calling it "makarna".
The very first mass production of macaroni has taken place in
Naples in the beginning of the 15th century; however it was not a successful
attempt, as the durability of the product could not be attained. The first
mass production in the real sense dates from the1800's, as the right climate
conditions have been worked out in Naples to thoroughly dry the macaroni so
that it would keep well for long.
The Turkish Cuisine has first met with vermicelli during the
Ottoman reign of the Arabic world. Consumed in the shape homemade vermicelli
in the early years, macaroni production later turned into an industry.
Macaroni production one of the earliest branches of food industry in Turkey
has resumed on smaller scale till the 50's. The increase in the number of
the macaroni factories in the 60's and the growth of the production scale in
the 70's have today made Turkey the 5th biggest macaroni producing country
in the world. |
