History/Origin

 Parsley is native to the central Mediterranean region.  It is cultivated as an herb, vegetable and spice.  Italian parsley is widely used in Middle Eastern, European, and American cooking.  It is most often used fresh, to finish a dish or for garnish, but may also be cooked.  Fresh Italian parsley is preferred to dry, as once dried its flavor and aromatics become nearly faint.

Botanical  There are two main groups of parsley used as herbs:  curly leaf and  Italian, or flat leaf.  Italian parsley is preferred by some gardeners as it better tolerates both rain and sunshine.  Italian parsley is flat and deep green with loosely- toothed leaves.  It stands out from other parsleys because of its concentration of essential oils which gives it the peppery, tangy and floral flavors.

Flat-Leaf Parsley Flower

Nutrition A sprig of parsley can provide much more than a decoration on your plate.  Parsley is rich in vitamins C, B12, K and A. This means parsley keeps your immune system strong, tones your bones and heals the nervous system.  Scientists have named it a ‘chemoprotective’ food because of the essential oils playing a role in preventing cancerous tumors.  Parsley is heart-healthy—the folic acid helps control your blood pressure.  Parsley tea relaxes stiff muscles and encourages digestion.

Fun Facts

 Before parsley was consumed as a food, it was used medicinally.  Parsley is a natural breath freshener. It reduces the odor of garlic breath when chewed fresh. This is due to parsley’s high chlorophyll levels.  The essential oil in parsley, when massaged into the scalp, can be used for hair loss prevention. It is often added to shampoos.  Because they look similar, Italian flat-leaf parsley is often mistaken for cilantro.