Romans introduced leeks in Wales

Washington, September 24 : Apart from the Romans giving roads, plumbing, wine and irrigation to Wales, they also introduced leeks in the region.

According to a report by BBC News, the National Museum of Wales has said that the Romans probably planted domesticated varieties of leeks to flavour their stews.

The museum has recreated a Roman-design garden at the National Roman Legion Museum in Caerleon, near Newport.

The garden aims to show how troops posted to the edge of the empire created their own home-from-home.

"We've used archaeological remains and research to interpret a Roman garden," said Andrew Dixey, Estate Manager for National Museum Wales.

Vixey said that the Romans looked on their garden as an extension to the house - as a place to relax and to entertain.

Roman incomers were keen on putting plants in pots and using them as decorative devices in their own right, to go alongside the stone ornaments they brought with them.

But, according to Vixey, there was a practical side to Roman gardens as well.

They would be sources for vegetables, fruit and herbs such as rosemary, thyme and mint, which were used for culinary and medicinal purposes.

"And it was probably here that the leek was to take on its domestic, and eventually iconic, status," said Vixey.

"The wild leek is a pretty poor plant for eating. It's fair to say, even if the wild leek was a native plant, then the Romans brought more domesticated varieties," he added.

"They had domesticated varieties that were much more beneficial from a nutritional and taste point of view," he explained.

ANI