A Brief Bread History.
Pita is one of the world’s most popular breads with a long history compared to other well-loved carbs. Learn the brief pita history and its possible origins.
Pita History and Possible Origins
What is Pita?
Pita originated in the Middle East over 4,000 years ago, making it the oldest type of bread in the world. It was the Ancient Greeks that first used the word “pita” meaning “flatbread.”
The first recipes mixed together flour and water, with the mixture left out to absorb natural yeasts. Then, the risen bread was cooked over a hot open fire.
Today, pita can be made with wheat or grains. While typically cooked on a stovetop, it can also be baked, steamed, fried, or grilled.
Pita’s Origins
There are two possible origins of pita both of which were desert and farming societies. The first is from the Amorites – the same ones written about in the Bible as the inhabitants of Canaan. These were Semitic people who resided in Mesopotamia, or modern-day Syria and Palestine.
Another possible origin is from the Bedouins who were Arab and desert nomads. Because of their on-the-move lifestyle, they were known to crush grains between stones, mix them with water, leave it out to ferment, and then bake the dough over an open fire. The pita was used as a plate or spoon.
If it wasn’t the Bedouins and it did in fact originate with the Amorites, the Bedouins popularized pita by trading it for essentials in the marketplaces.
The love for pita spread all throughout the Middle East, to Northern Africa, and up to Europe where it eventually crossed over to the Americas.
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