The Actual History Behind The Invention Of Peanut Butter Is Far From Smooth

Is there any food more American than a PB&J? Whether it’s slathered on bread or eaten straight from the jar, peanut butter has been a family favorite for generations. But most people aren't aware that the sticky-savory cupboard staple has a strange history that goes back centuries... and parts of it are surprisingly dark. 

From the Incan Empire to Reese's Pieces

Today, peanut butter can be found in almost every American home, generating sales worth well over $800 million every year. But it hasn’t always been such a money-maker. From the Incan Empire to Reese’s Pieces, the story of this moreish spread spans across time — and brings some sinister characters into the mix.

An eccentric inventor

So who really invented the peanut butter that we know and love today? And what was the inspiration behind the creation that’d change the face of sandwiches for good? The truth will take us to the troubled hallways of a Michigan sanitarium, where the eccentric proprietor’s experimenting with a bizarre new food.

Ancient history

According to the National Peanut Board, peanuts, which are actually a type of legume, were first cultivated in South America, likely in Brazil or Peru. Admittedly, archaeologists have yet to discover fossil records to confirm these claims, but the crop appears in artistic depictions dating back some 3,500 years.

Offerings to the spirit world

Later, in around 1500 B.C., Peruvian Incas began including peanuts in their sacrificial rites. Apparently, they even buried the legumes alongside their mummies, hoping that the offerings would assist the transition of the dead into the afterlife. And on the other side of the Andes Mountains, Brazilian tribes would grind them up with maize to create a savory drink.