Wheat is the most common, and the proportion of people who eat pasta in China is very high, so wheat should be the most common exotic species. Wheat was introduced into China from West Asia 4000 years ago. Besides wheat, there is also barley, which was also introduced from West Asia. Grape and alfalfa are the varieties brought back by Zhang Qian when he went to the Western Regions. Of these two crops, one provides us with wine, and alfalfa is an important feed for horses. This also played an important role in promoting China's ancient national defense forces. Pistachio nuts were introduced to China at least before the Tang Dynasty. Cucumber was introduced into China from India or West Asia before the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Zhancheng rice introduced from Viet Nam was also a very important crop in ancient China, and it was introduced to China in the Northern Song Dynasty.

As an important fruit, watermelon was introduced to China from Africa. There is also corn, which was first planted by American Indians and introduced to China by missionaries in the Ming Dynasty. Speaking of Indians, he also contributed tobacco to us. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing. In fact, tobacco is also an important painkiller for Indians. Coffee and cocoa are also imported from abroad. In the past, our ancestors only drank tea, right? Since the introduction of these two crops, our drinks have become colorful. Peanut is also a crop native to the United States. Sweet potato was introduced into China from the Philippines on 1593.

In fact, there is also a very important alien species, that is, pepper. Nowadays, people in many provinces of China can't eat without peppers. Pepper originated in Central and South America and was introduced to China in the Ming Dynasty. In the past, people in China mainly used onions and garlic to cook the spicy taste of food. Seasonings such as nutmeg, clove, cinnamon and pepper were introduced into China from Indonesia, so they are called spice islands. Since we have these spices, our dining table has become colorful, right?

There is also a very important exotic species that is not used for eating, and that is cotton. Before that, the upper class of our ancestors only wore fur or mulberry silk, while the poor mainly used hemp products. Therefore, the introduction of cotton is a great boon to ordinary people in China. Sesame, peanut and sunflower seeds are important sources of vegetable oil, which are imported from abroad. Before that, people in China mainly used animal oil as edible oil. Cashew nuts were introduced from abroad in the 1930s, and their origin was in the northeast of Brazil.

It's a little messy above. First, the alien species are classified: first, food crops: the most important is wheat, in addition to barley, Zhancheng rice, sweet potato and corn. Feed: alfalfa. Oil pressing: peanuts, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Brewing: grapes, corn. Vegetables: potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbages, zucchini, carrots, pumpkins, bamboo shoots, bergamot, guava, annona, papaya.