Tag: Caper bush

Capers are mentioned as a food as far back as 2,000 B.C. in the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh. But despite their ancient roots, many people still ask: What are capers made of? They are the unopened, immature flower buds of the prickly caper bush ($$Capparis spinosa$$), native to the Mediterranean region.

Archaeobotanical evidence suggests human consumption of capers dates back over 10,000 years, with mentions in ancient texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh. Unlike common vegetables, this savory ingredient is the preserved flower bud of a prickly perennial plant.