Published By: Darielle Britto

Interesting Foods That Are Extinct

These foods are extinct.

There are certain foods in this world that we may only get to read about because they are either extinct or succumbed to other factors. Here are extinct foods from history that you won't be able to taste.

The Ansault pear

According to reports, the Ansault pear is believed to have been originally cultivated in Angers, France in 1863. It was a prized possession due to its delicious flesh. It is described as being buttery and was said to have a sweet flavour. Unfortunately, commercial farming and irregular trees maybe some of the reasons this pear no longer exists. Growing Ansault pear trees in large orchards seemed impractical. Plus, commercial farmers had other pear varieties they could grow instead of spending too much time on temperamental strains. The fruit seemed to have disappeared somewhere in the early 20th century after nurseries stopped growing them.

A special apple called Taliaferro apple

The Taliaferro apples were reportedly cultivated by Thomas Jefferson in Monticello, United States (US). Jefferson stated the fruit produced the finest cyder in a letter to his granddaughter. The Taliaferro apple is considered by many to be the holy grail. This fruit has been described as being small - about one to two inches in diameter, and its skin is white and red-streaked. Unfortunately, the original orchard is long gone, along with the special apples. Although many horticulturists hope to come across it.

An old Cornish cauliflower

There was a time when an old Cornish cauliflower was a popular food product. But it wasn't for its taste. It had something unique that other varieties didn't. This particular cauliflower was able to withstand a destructive plant virus called ringspot. However, when European growers began replacing the Old Cornish cauliflower with a French variety in the 1940s, it slowly started to cease to exist by the 1950s.

A herb called Silphium

Silphium was a leek-flavoured herb that was widely used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. It was used in all sorts of ways, from cooking to medicine. It was also used in perfume and aphrodisiac. Many ancient Mediterranean cultures made great use of it. The herb is also mentioned in many Roman poems and songs. The cause of its extinction is not yet clear. However, it could have been due to multiple factors. Overgrazing and overcropping, due to its high demand, may have led to its demise.