When you eat pizza, you are connecting with people from all over the world

It turns out that pizza is much more than just “comfort food” and it could be one of the most multicultural dishes in history. Its unique blend of ingredients makes it a cosmopolitan and extremely diverse specialty. Each of its components comes from a different part of the world, and thus, when you eat a slice, you are becoming part of a group of millions who enjoy this complex delight. Today we will talk about the various ingredients that exist in a pizza and how each one has a completely different origin: Wheat The main component for creating the dough is the oldest crop of humanity as humans have been harvesting it for over 10,000 years. The largest producers of this ingredient are China, India, the United States, Russia, and France. Tomatoes It’s hard to imagine a pizza without the sweet and tangy sauce whose main component is the tomato. They supposedly originated from the Andes, but it’s interesting to know that Hernán Cortés found crops of this ingredient when he arrived in Mexico and later brought it to Spain, thus gaining fame throughout the continent. Basil If you want the traditional Neapolitan pizza, basil is essential, but it doesn't only grow in Italy; it spreads throughout the Mediterranean and even reaches India where it is fundamental in the creation of traditional dishes like curry. Oregano When one sits down to eat pizza, there is always dried oregano on the side to add to taste. This delicious condiment, which also grows in the Mediterranean, is actually even more important for the Turkish industry, as that country is the largest exporter in the world. Cheese When you lift your slice of pizza, it should hang with a string of delicious, warm cheese; it’s almost a rule. It is not well known how mozzarella was created, it is said that it may have happened when a bit of curd cheese fell into boiling water, but beyond its creation, its place of conception seems to be Western Asia. Garlic Just as the sauce needs tomato and basil, it also requires that unmistakable touch of garlic. Some like it more, others less, but the reality is that it is used in all the kitchens of the world, and you should know that it originated in central Africa from where it was exported to the rest of the world hundreds of years ago. Olives Although they do not come on every pizza, they are a luxurious and salty touch that you can add to get the true Italian flavor. This ancient ingredient was even recommended by Muhammad himself, who encouraged his followers to eat it for health preservation. We have no doubt that by now your appetite has been whetted, and the good news is that you don’t have to go out or order a pizza; you can create a delicious homemade version with the recipes we leave you here: Neapolitan Pizza Pizza with Anchovies Hawaiian Pizza Apple and Cheese Pizza Cold Cuts Pizza