Lettuce Explain!

Is Romaine Lettuce Greek?

 

 

Because of the famous Caeasar salad and the lettuce called Romain naturaly I thought it was an Italian lettuce. Maybe indeginous to Rome or something. 

 

So why do the Brits call it Cos lettuce?  It turns out that it was cultivated on the Greek island of Cos.  It got to Greece from Egypt and the Greeks passed it along to the Romans.

 

The Romans called it Romana and the French called it Romaine.  

 

In the States it didn't seem to have a chance until the Caesar Salad was invented in Tijuana by an Italian immigrant.  

 

Romain lettuce crops started popping up everywhere and Iceburg letuce wlost its ranking.

 

At the end of the day it isn't Greek or Italian in origin but the intentional or unintentional marketing of Romaine Lettuce has made anyone eating it think Italian. 

 

For sure it's something to think about now especially since Americans are discovering Vlita (Amaranth Greens) are proven to be healthier than Kale. Will todays Greeks market them as Greek? We'll find out soon enough.