The History of Leeks

Leeks hail from Central Asia and are thought to have been domesticated around 10,000 years ago. Because they originated in a botanically complex area with many insects and herbivores, leeks evolved to have several chemical defenses, one of which is the lachrymatory factor (the same sulfuric compound that makes humans tear up when cutting onions). Interestingly, leeks are considered a cultigen of elephant garlic, which means that they have no wild counterparts; this is likely due to how long they’ve been domesticated. Leeks have been popular for so long that they are mentioned in the Bible and were sold alongside garlic and other alliums in a specially designated section of ancient Greek markets known as ta skoroda. Leeks spread beyond Central Asia via the Silk Road and other trade routes, eventually reaching as far as the Anglo-Saxon territories, where they became very popular. Today, leeks are cultivated and used in cuisines all around the world, including the United States.