Americans Eat More Than 10 Billion Bowls Of Soup Each Year.

National Homemade Soup Day is observed annually on February 4th.

Before the era of modern transportation, soup was a product of regionally available foods. For this reason, there are thousands of soup recipes available today.

• Many soups also have medicinal purposes.  What was once considered a wives’ tale, chicken soup now has the backing of the scientific community with helping relieve the symptoms of the common cold.  Scientists believe that a bowl of the soup may reduce inflammation of the lungs. It is thought that chicken soup slows down the activity of white blood cells that can cause the inflammation.
• The Middle English word soupen meant “to drink in sips”, which is how most soups were consumed. The words “soup,” “supper,” “sip,” and “sop” are derived from  this term.
• We ‘eat’ and don’t drink soup. In most cultures, soup is had as a part of the meal. According to etiquette experts, since we consume soup with a spoon as opposed to sipping it from a bowl, we ‘eat’ it.
• The word soup is of Sanskrit origin! It is derived from the su and po, which means good nutrition.
• The earliest archaeological evidence for the consumption of soup dates back to 6000 BC, and it was hippopotamus soup.
• Traditionally, soups are classified into two main groups: clear soups and thick soups. The established French classifications of clear soups are bouillon and consommé. Thick soups are classified depending upon the type of thickening agent used: purées are vegetable soups thickened with starch.
• Soup isn’t always served hot. In warmer climates like Spain, cold soup alternatives, like tomato-based gazpacho, are popular.
• The Campbell Company was the first to invent condensed soup. They introduced it to the world in 1897.
• Americans eat more than 10 billion bowls of soup each year.
• Women are twice as likely to order soup for lunch as men.
• When Andy Warhol was once asked why he painted the iconic soup cans, he said: “I used to have the same (Campbell’s soup) lunch every day for 20 years.”
• Soups were easily digested and were prescribed for invalids since ancient times. The modern restaurant industry is said to be based on soup. Restoratifs (wheron the word “restaurant” comes) were the first items served in public restaurants in 18th century Paris. Broth [Pot-au-feu], bouillion, and consomme entered here. Classic French cuisine generated many of the soups we know today.
• Regardless of age, gender or region, the survey shows that soup is something
  everyone can agree on. In fact, a nearly unanimous 95% of people say they love or like soup. When taking a closer look at self-proclaimed soup lovers, Millennials (64%) were the clear winners, outpacing Gen-Xers (62%) and Baby Boomers (51%). Regionally, more respondents said they loved soup in the West (62%) and Northeast (60%) than in the East or South (58% each).
• When asked if they would pair soup with wine, more than one-quarter of respondents (27%) said “yes,” with chardonnay (45%) being the most popular wine pairing, followed by rosé (26%) and pinot noir (25%).
• When it comes to sipping soup, clothing is apparently optional for some people. Per the survey, 28% of people admit they’ve eaten soup shirt-less and 20% have eaten soup sans pants. Meanwhile, one-in-10 have eaten soup without any clothes on!
  Interestingly, twice as many men (15%) than women (7%) have eaten soup
  this way.
• What is better than soup and a sandwich? Respondents revealed their top five
  sandwich pairings with soup were (in order): the tried-and-true grilled cheese (63%), turkey (11%), roast beef (9%), ham (8%) and tuna fish (4%).
• The survey uncovered some unique affinities and hobbies among soup fans. Most respondents (60%) expressed their love of both soup and dogs, while 46% of respondents said the same of soup and cats.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Foodimentary

Mobile-Cuisine

Campbell Soup

Food Timeline