The Country That Eats The Most Onions Per Capita - Tasting Table

"One hundred and ten pounds a year. That's how many onions the average person in Tajikistan eats - one and a half times more than the next country on the list, Libya, and more than six and a half times the typical American person's relatively modest 20-pounds-per-year intake. Although we can't rule out that there might be one guy in Tajikistan just eating an unbelievable number of onions, it likely breaks down to about one medium-to-large onion per day, per person."

"Historically, onions are among humanity's oldest crops. They've been cultivated for at least 7,000 years and likely were first domesticated in the part of the world where Tajikistan is now located. As such, Tajik's onion culture may be rooted in the same soil where early onion farming began. Given the climate extremes of the mountainous, landlocked country, onions are a hardy crop for Tajik farmers, storing well. This makes them usable across seasons, transportable, and essential for developing and carrying flavor."

Tajiks eat about 110 pounds of onions per year, roughly one medium-to-large onion daily. This exceeds Libya and the USA significantly. Onions are among the oldest domesticated crops, cultivated for at least 7,000 years, likely first domesticated where Tajikistan now is. The country's mountainous, landlocked climate favors onions as a hardy, storable crop usable across seasons and transport. Onions form a foundational ingredient in Tajik cuisine, appearing in plov, stews, soups, and sauces. Cultivation has recently expanded, for example production in Jayhun district reached 222,000 tons and planted area increased over 1,100 hectares in two years.

Read at Tasting Table