Originated in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Dried specimens from archaeological sites in ancient Egypt, as well as wall carvings and drawings show the leek as part of Egyptian diet form as early as 2,000 BC. There are four different cultivated crops that share the species Allium ampeloprasum, leek, kurrat, pearl onion and great-headed or elephant garlic. The leek plant is essentially a sheath of leaves, the base of these leaves forms a long edible pseudo-stem that is the primary part of the crop used for cooking. Their ability to be harvested throughout the winter in milder climates has made them popular. Delicious leek recipes.
Companions: celery, onions, carrots
