Ecuador: The Cinchona Tree and the Cure for Malaria - The History of Fresh Produce

About this episode

The episode explores the history of the cinchona tree and its significance in producing the cure for malaria, highlighting the contributions and sacrifices of those involved in its discovery.

Why did the cloud forests of Ecuador produce the only cure for a disease that killed popes, hollowed out armies, and blocked European expansion into the tropics — and what did the people whose knowledge made that cure possible pay for sharing it? Who was Manuel Incra Mamani, the man whose botanical expertise created the Dutch quinine monopoly, whose name is on nothing, and who was beaten to death for his trouble? And what does any of this have to do with the gin and tonic? Join John and Patrick as they tell the story of cinchona bark — the Jesuit smugglers, the Andean monopoly, the pharmaceutical arms race, and the chemical precondition for the European partition of Africa... ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Support us! Share this episode with your friends Give a 5-star rating Write a review ----------- Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book recommendations, a sneak peek of upcoming episodes and more…

People in this episode

Hosts: Patrick Kelly, John

Topics covered

• history of fresh produce
• cinchona bark
• malaria cure
• botanical expertise
• pharmaceutical history
• European expansion
• cultural impact

Keywords

• cinchona
• malaria
• quinine
• Ecuador
• botany
• pharmaceuticals
• history
• gin and tonic
• Jesuit smugglers
• Andean monopoly

Sponsors

Cornell University, Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Ecuador, Andes

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