Tag: Smallage

Before becoming the mild, crisp vegetable we know today, wild celery, or smallage, was known in ancient Greece for its more fibrous stalks and medicinal uses, appearing in funeral wreaths as a chthonian symbol. This history of cultivation and selective breeding has led to the development of several distinct varieties, prompting the common question: what is the other name for celery?.

Originating in the Mediterranean region and parts of Asia, wild celery has been used for thousands of years as a spice and for medicinal purposes. Today, celery seed is also called smallage or goes by its scientific name, *Apium graveolens*, and is valued for its concentrated, earthy flavor in a variety of dishes.