A sunny journey across the world

The common sunflower or Helianthus annuus, is a large annual herb that is grown as a crop for its edible oil and edible fruits (sunflower seeds). The plant was first domesticated in the Americas.

Sunflower cultivation has been dated back to 3000 BC in Arizona and New Mexico, and was considered sacred by the Incas of Peru, as it represented the Sun God.

In the late 16th Century, after the Spanish conquest of Peru, the Sunflower was brought to Europe, and called “The Indian Sun” or “the Golden Flower of Peru”.

It was in England where sunflower oil was first marketed in 1716. Russia’s Tsar, Peter the Great, was also responsible for starting their cultivation in Russia.

By 1830, the manufacture of sunflower oil was done on a commercial scale. The Russian Orthodox Church increased its popularity by forbidding most oil foods from being consumed during Lent.

However, sunflower was not on the prohibited list and therefore gained in immediate popularity as a food.

By the early 19th century, Russian farmers were growing over 2 million acres of sunflower. V. S. Pustovoit, a Russian scientist was instrumental in developing high-yielding varieties of sunflower, which was then brought back to America.

Being rich in omega 6, omega 9, unsaturated fats and vitamin E, Sunflower oil soon started becoming a favourite in England and European countries to control cholesterol.

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It was the 12th Century AD. The sun was beating down severely, and Peru was melting in the summer heat. Acclacuna, the Chief priestess of the Incas, adjusted her headdress again.

The sunflowers that made up her headdress looked resplendent. But they weren’t quite firm on her head. “Chuki!” she called out, impatiently.

“Chuki, where are you?” Chuki, the slave girl, came rushing in. She was quite scared of the priestess, who could be very severe.

“It is almost time for me to offer worship to Inti”, she said, in a grave priestly tone. Inti was the Sun God, whom the Incas worshipped.

As the Priestess to the Sun, Acclacuna held an important position among the Incas, and the sunflowers on her head were considered sacred, and were meant to honour the Sun God.

“The sunflowers have not been fixed properly”, Acclacuna continued, as a silent Chuki stood there with her head bowed and hands folded. “Keep them properly as they should be kept.”

Chuki timidly stepped forward and started rearranging the flowers on the Priestess’ head. The sunflowers themselves were quite happy to have been chosen for such an important reason. What an honour! They thought.

But Acclacuna was getting impatient. “It is time for the ceremony. It is time to appease the Sun God. And if we don’t—”, she said sharply, leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid, for effect. “Do it quickly or the fire of heaven will strike you down!”

Chuki trembled in fear and tried to hurry. At last it was done. Acclacuna stalked away, and Chuki rushed back to perform her other duties.

But unfortunately for Chuki, one of the sunflowers fell down, and Chuki stamped on it in her hurry to go. She did not notice it at all, and carried on with her work.

But when Acclacuna came back, she saw the trampled sunflower lying on the floor. “Sacrilege!” she screamed in fury.

“May the curse of the Sun God be upon you!” And poor Chuki was burnt to death by the sun’s rays for her mistake.

The sunflowers were quite sad, for they didn’t want to have been the cause for someone’s suffering. “I hope we become the reason for someone’s happiness someday”, said one sunflower to the other.

Centuries passed. The sunflowers bloomed day after day in the Americas alone, turning up their lovely faces to the Sun.

If the natives of South America used sunflowers for worship, the natives of North America were eating them. The sunflower seeds were ground to make a fine powder, that was then mixed with flour to make bread.

But the year 1532 brought bad news from across the oceans. The Spaniards invaded Peru, and there was a war.

The Incans, who had never known gunfire or cannon, tasted defeat easily despite the Spanish army being small in size.

Worse, they were infected by the Small Pox for the first time, and many of the Incans died of the infection.

“It is the wrath of the Gods!” screamed the priests and priestesses of the Sun, but even they could do nothing as the big pustules erupted over the bodies of the natives, and they died a painful death.

The Spaniards, had of course, been exposed to the disease earlier, and so did not suffer as much. Pizarro, the Spanish explorer who had led the conquest was satisfied with his work.

He was even happier when he saw the vast fields of sunflowers— and some of the sunflower seeds made it to his pocket, and those of some other Spaniards.

“We’re going to Spain!” giggled one seed.

“We’re going to see the world!” giggled another.

And thus the Sunflowers appeared in Europe. It was colder there, but they were happy nonetheless. The Sunflower became an exotic ornamental plant, which was then used by Europeans for decoration and beauty.

Holland now had not just tulip fields but also sunflowers shining golden yellow. And there the Sunflowers stayed for another two centuries.

The Tsar of Russia, Peter the Great, was touring Holland when he chanced upon the Sunflowers. “What beautiful flowers!” he commented.

The Sunflowers stood upright and proud, spreading their lovely long petals for the Tsar to see. “Who is he?” asked a small sunflower.

“Shhhh!” said the bigger sunflowers around him, “Keep quiet and look pretty, and we might just get a chance to go to Russia!”

And the Tsar was so impressed, that he took some sunflower seeds back home with him, and asked his gardeners to plant it around.

And soon, Russia had sunflowers, while of course the Russians had no idea what to do with it. They stared in wonder at the sunflowers, but didn’t know what use it could be to them, until it was time for Lent.

Now Lent was a six-week period of fasting before Easter, and all Christians were expected to give up certain luxuries during this time, and that included food as well.

The Church took great pains to specify exactly which foods were prohibited during this time, and that included lard, butter and oil as well! Just when they thought they should resign themselves to a Lent period of absolutely tasteless food, the kindness of Peter the Great struck them.

“Hey! We could use sunflower oil!” they said joyfully, because the Church had completely forgotten about including Sunflower oil in its list.

Soon sunflowers became a hit with the Russians. By 1830, sunflowers were being grown on large scale for the production of sunflower oil.

And what was more, they had developed vastly improved varieties of sunflowers, which could produce a large amount of oil.

The sunflowers were very happy about how far they had come. From North America, and South America, they had crossed the seas to Europe! But now they were getting homesick. “I miss America”, said one. “Me too”, said several more voices.

Thankfully, there were now Russians who were migrating to America, and taking sunflower seeds with them.

And not just any sunflower seeds— but seeds that were of plants far more improved and better compared to their poorer native cousins back home, who had not got a chance to roam the world.

“We’re going back!” they cried. “Hurrah!” And that was how the Sunflower enjoyed a sunny trip across the world and back!