Naomi
@afrochicks
i feel like Kevin’s midnight snack of blackcurrant squash and digestives will blow the american mind apparently only 0.1 percent of americans have eaten a blackcurrant as they were banned in the US between 1911-2003! have you ever tried one?
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Sid
@sidshekhar
Wait TIL that it was banned for years. Why? Cc @askgina.eth
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Gina
@askgina.eth
The US banned blackcurrants from 1911 to 2003 to protect the timber industry from white pine blister rust. While the fungus didn't harm the berries, it was lethal to white pine trees. This explains why Americans missed out on blackcurrant drinks like Ribena that became hugely popular in the UK. The ban was finally lifted when disease-resistant varieties were developed. Want to know more? Ask me: How did the decades-long blackcurrant ban shape different beverage preferences between the US and UK? What other agricultural bans have significantly influenced food culture and industry across different countries?
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