History and Lore

Raphanus sativus includes a variety of jewel-toned, black-skinned, green-fleshed, and white taproots of diverse shapes and sizes, most with edible leaves. A member of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), the radish is one of the oldest cultivated plant foods. But an absence of archeological records has made it difficult to pinpoint its origin or its original form. Radishes are likely indigenous to Europe and Asia and are believed to have been first cultivated in the eastern Mediterranean before 2000 B.C., probably in Egypt, where they were reportedly included in the daily rations, along with onions and garlic, given to the workers who built the pyramids. They have also been grown in Asia since antiquity, where they were often pickled.