Over the span of human history there have been plants which had various historical mentions and usage. Leeks are one of these plants. Its history spans over thousands of years and has been used by ancient civilizations in many ways.
Leeks have been used by humans for over 3000 years. This herb originated from the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. Over the centuries it has crossed the oceans to the United Kingdom.
Early historical mentions of this plant are found in Ancient Egypt and in the Christian Bible. Leeks have been depicted in the tombs from the era of Ancient Egypt. It is also mentioned in Numbers 11:5 of the Bible.
The ancient Romans had high regard for this plant. They considered it as a superior vegetable and respected it.
In ancient times, eating leeks has been linked to good singing voice. One of the emperors of Rome, Emperor Nero, was nicknamed Porophagus which means leek-eater. He was nicknamed this because he ate a lot of leeks believing that it would give him a better singing voice. Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, credited the strong and sweet voice of the Partridge bird to leeks. This is because the bird eats leek as its source for nutrition.
The Romans brought leeks to the United Kingdom. This event has specially contributed to the history of Wales. The Welsh used leeks as a tool in battle. They would place it in their caps to distinguish themselves from their enemies such as the Saxons.
Today, leeks are the national emblem of Wales. It is still used in many European nations. However it has lost its popularity to onions.