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Like many tales of culinary delight, our spinach story begins in an ancient land, Persia, now known as Iran. It was there that spinach first took root, so to speak, as early as the 3rd or 4th century CE.
By the 11th century, spinach had spread its leaves across the European continent, becoming a favorite of medieval kitchens. Moorish Spain played a pivotal role in introducing spinach to the rest of Europe, and by the 13th century, it was a staple in European gardens and monasteries.
While human intervention has indeed played a role in shaping the evolution of spinach, it’s essential to differentiate between selective breeding and the concept of a “man-made” food.
Now that we’ve defined “man-made,” it’s clear that spinach is not a human invention. While humans have certainly played a role in shaping the evolution of spinach through selective breeding, the origins of this leafy green lie in the natural world.