We all know it. That long, green pickle, that is, the cucumber. It’s healthy and multifunctional. In short: a fantastic fruit vegetable that certainly deserves its own article! Here are 11 fun facts about the cucumber…
1. Special family
The zucchini and gherkin are clearly brothers of the cucumber. They look a lot like each other. But did you know that the cucumber is also related to the melon and the pumpkin? A bit crazy, but in every family you have variation. You have relatives in all shapes and sizes.
2. Crooked cucumbers
The cucumber is so interesting that even politicians get involved! The second chamber wants to put an end to the straight cucumbers. Most cucumbers are curved. The only reason why we see straight cucumbers in the supermarket is because producers of the cucumber think that we, the consumers, prefer to see them straight. Because of this, a lot of crooked cucumbers are thrown away. Nonsense! That’s what the second room thinks too.
Source: Shutterstock3. The cucumber has a cooling effect
You might know the phrase “cool as a cucumber”. But what few people know is that this pronunciation actually makes sense. The cucumber is really cooling. It lowers the temperature of your blood and reduces swelling. That’s why women sometimes use it on their eyes.
4. The cucumber as a breath freshener
As if the cucumber didn’t have enough advantages, it also refreshes your breath! To do this, press a slice of cucumber against your palate for 30 seconds. In the meantime, the phytochemicals kill the bacteria that cause that nasty air out of your tailgate. Handy, isn’t it?!
5. What’s the cucumber time?
Cucumber time is probably from England. Tailors here used the term ‘cucumber time’ for the time when the cucumbers were harvested. This happened in the summer. During the cucumber time, the nobility left the city, so there was little work for the tailors. The only thing left to do is take it easy (with a refreshing piece of cucumber, of course)!
6. Cucumbers are healthy
Because 96% of the cucumber consists of water, many people assume that it is not very nutritious or healthy. However, the opposite is the case. In addition to water, cucumbers also contain many vitamins, including vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.
7. Organic cleaning agent
For people who like to concern themselves with the environment, there is good news! Cucumber is a great organic cleaner. It can be used to clean taps, washbasins and many other smooth surfaces. So get rid of the chemical cleaners!
8. Fogged mirror
Hate a fogged up mirror after a shower too? Wipe it with a slice of cucumber! This makes the mirror nice and clean and also leaves a nice, fresh scent in your bathroom.
Source: Shutterstock9. Delicious in the gin-tonic
The well-known drink, the gin-tonic, is an indispensable part of nightlife. You can make it with a slice of orange or lemon, but of course it’s best with a piece of cucumber!
10. Culinary delights
The cucumber is used in many dishes. It is almost tasteless, so you can add the flavour you want. In addition, it tastes nice and fresh in all kinds of dishes.
