Onions are eaten and grown in more countries than any other plant, but they rarely receive praise.
According to the BBC, the onion is the most widespread food in the world. The UN estimates that at least 175 countries produce onions, more than twice the number of those that grow wheat, which is officially the world's largest crop by area harvested.
Unlike wheat, onion is a basic ingredient of all major diets, so it is a truly global food.
Laura Kelley, food historian and author of The Silk Road Gourmet, stated in the British channel that, "based on genetic analysis, we believe that onions come from Central Asia. There is also evidence that it was used during the Bronze Age in Europe.
Currently, however, there is little world trade in onions. About 90% of the onions produced worldwide are consumed in the country that produces them.
Major onion consuming countries. Photo: BBC / FAO
China and India are the countries that dominate production and consumption. Together, the two countries account for about 45% of annual global production, which exceeds 70 million tons.
Libya is the world champion in per capita onion consumption, as each person ate an average of 33.6 kilos of onions in 2011, according to data from the UN.
The Senegalese aren't far behind as they ate an average of 21.7 kilos per capita in 2011, more than twice the amount of onions ate by the British (9.3 kilos per head).
Source: Lainformacion.com