Origin of the Spice and History

Parsley is native to the Mediterranean, particularly the part from Southern Europe to the Balkan Peninsula. The Greeks are thought to have used parsley as a medication since prehistoric times. Hippocrates believed that it was useful for the treatment of kidney pains and rheumatism. He also claimed that it was good as a preventative medicine, which could help maintain good general health.

The ancient Greeks and Romans used parsley, but not as a food. They believed that it had some links with death, and would only grow it outside the home. It was used to line their garden borders and fed to their horses to improve their strength. Due to its associations with death, parsley was also widely used in funerals. Wreaths of parsley would be placed on tombs and the leaves would also be used to neutralise the smell of corpses.