You know the expression “Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it?” Well, I’ve lived in Virginia for a couple of decades and have managed to resist trying one of the most iconic foods in Virginia: peanut soup. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a big fan of our state’s culinary classics: Chesapeake Bay crab seasoned with Old Bay, trout caught fresh from a mountain stream, ham biscuits, Brunswick stew, Highland County syrup…the list goes on. Yet there’s something perplexing about this traditional Virginia soup that I can’t quite put my finger on. Let’s investigate the history of this unique Virginia dish, shall we?

Photographed below is one of our state's most unique dishes: peanut soup. If you've ever visited Old Town Alexandria or Williamsburg, you might have noticed this curious dish on the menu.
A Marlowe / Getty Images
While peanut soup has an extensive history in Virginia, it wasn't commonplace in the colonial days.
bonchan / Getty Images
In fact, peanuts weren't grown commercially until 1842. You might be wondering, then, how peanut soup became so popular.

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It's believed that peanuts originated in South America and were grown as many as 3,500 years ago. Eventually, this crop made its way to the African continent via Spanish explorers.
Joe_Potato / Getty Images
Africans are credited with discovering the versatility of peanuts, and the tradition of growing and harvesting peanuts continued in the enslaved Virginia populations. By the 19th century, George Washington Carver proposed alternatives to cotton, and the success of peanuts took off.
Carver was enthusiastic about a variety of crops and could list at least 300 uses for peanuts. One of them would eventually become our state's signature soup.
Jough Donakowski / Google Reviews
For a popular version of this classic dish, head to King's Arm's Tavern in Williamsburg.
Luke Beavers / Google Reviews
And while it may sound like an unusual choice for soup, the ingredients are pretty basic. In fact, you may be able to make it with pantry staples, including onions, celery, butter, flour, chicken broth, peanut butter, and light cream.

So, while I’ve never tried this classic Virginia dish, I may just be convinced to make some at home. The verdict is still out!

What are your thoughts on peanut soup? Have you ever tried it? If so, was it homemade or at a restaurant? We’d love to hear your stories! Feel free to share them with us in the comments below. If you’re feeling inspired to make some more classic Virginia dishes, check out this recipe book: Virginia Hospitality: A Book of Recipes from 200 Years of Gracious Entertaining.

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