- The avocado is believed to have originated in the state of Puebla, Mexico, as far back as 10,000 B.C. They first evolved as food for the large animals that once roamed the earth, like giant ground Sloths. Time was there were animals large enough to eat the fruit whole and excrete the stones. Avocados might have gone extinct if humans hadn't developed a taste for them.
- They are a fruit, not a vegetable. Technically, they are a single seeded berry. They belong to the Genus Persea in the Lauraceae family, which also contains cinnamon.
- If you've ever thought an unpeeled avocado looks like a testicle, you're not alone. The Aztecs thought so, too. Their word for an avocado, “ahuacatl,” which evolved into the modern word for the fruit, also meant testicle. Avocados are called alligator pears or cheese pairs in some parts of the world.
- The Aztecs saw them as a symbol of love and fertility. Not only do they look like testicles, but they grow in pairs on the tree.
- They can be used in baking as a substitute for Butter. Not only are the resulting cakes healthier, but they stay moist for longer. In Brazil, they add avocado to Ice cream.
- Avocados have more fibre and protein than any other fruit and also contain vitamin B6, Vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and folate. They are the only fruits which contain monounsaturated fat (the one that's good for you). An avocado also contains more Potassium than a Banana.
- They're good for you, but not for your pets. Most parts of the avocado tree are toxic to animals, including the peel. The fruit itself is highly toxic to Horses and some birds.
- Avocados do not ripen on the tree - they have enzymes preventing this. Leaving them on the tree means they can be in season for longer. When they feel heavy for their size and are dark in colour, they're ripe. You can speed up the ripening process by storing the avocado in a bag with an Apple or a banana. The gases from these fruits help the avocado ripen faster.
- Avocado trees do not self pollinate. They need to be grown near other avocado trees for pollination to happen. Flowers which haven't been pollinated may produce a smaller fruit without a seed. These are known in the avocado industry as "cukes" and are usually thrown away, but they are sometimes marketed as "cocktail avocados".
- 95% of the avocados grown commercially come from the descendants of one tree, which a postman named Rudolph Hass found in his garden in the 1930s.
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