The History of Celery (Plus Recipes)
Celery has a bad rep but it’s a powerhouse of a vegetable!
The celery plant can be traced back to the Mediterranean region. Celery was first recorded by the Greek philosopher, Pythagoras, about 500 B.C., who reportedly used it in his daily diet.
The Romans are believed to have later developed this taste for celery when they invaded Greece around 146 B.C. The ancient Romans are also said to have believed that celery had medical powers. The Roman soldiers carried celery stalks instead of money, calling them “vegetable purses.” When they reached the borders of their land, the soldiers would trade these stalks for coins…….
Celery traveled across Europe with both pilgrims and explorers. It wasn’t until the late 1700s that Thomas Jefferson planted celery at Monticello, his plantation in Virginia. George Washington was also known to grow celery in his garden.
The use of celery didn’t reach America until after the Civil War when German and Swiss immigrants brought their knowledge and taste for it with them. At this time, prosperous families were growing celery in their gardens and serving it at formal dinners. Eventually, however, these formal dinners became rare and by 1925, people had stopped eating celery during dinner……….
