Beetroot

The Roman empire gave many things to the world but the intelligent use of beetroot was not one of them. They chose to eat its leaves soaked in wine and sprinkled with pepper!

Thankfully it arrived in Kyivan Rus (via Constantinople) and it was left to early Ukrainians to do justice to this fine vegetable. And how! It is the central ingredient of the Ukrainian national dish borsch, a soup that has found new homes in every neighbouring country.

Little surprise as in recent years, borsch has been labelled a “super-food” thanks to the health qualities of its contents, above all beetroot. Borsch may reduce high blood pressure and offer stomach, liver and heart protection.