The Create Your Own Box

In 1600-1800, aubergines were primarily grown in Spain and Egypt. In these warm regions, aubergines were considered a great delicacy; harvested in the summertime, they were often pickled and saved for the winter. In Britain, colder climates meant that farmers and other cultivators struggled to grow aubergine to full ripeness, so the vegetable was usually only grown for decorative purposes and to showcase the rarity of plants being cultivated in a garden.

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Broccoli calabrese originated from Naples in Italy. Early modern British gardeners were often unsuccessful in cultivating Broccoli; they found it challenging to regularly yield a successful crop, so other vegetables, such as cauliflower, were imagined as more lucrative. Where Broccoli was eaten in Britain, it was mostly in stews, or boiled and served as a side salad. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

In the period from 1600-1800, Carrots were widely enjoyed in Carrot puddings. These usually were made of grated Carrots, grated white bread, eggs, sugar, and a variety of spices including nutmeg – not too dissimilar from a modern Carrot cake! Carrots were also used in soups, stews, and stocks. It was also believed that they could provide strength to those who had been suffering from long-term illnesses. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Cauliflowers were very popular in early modern Britain and were widely grown in many kitchen gardens. Cauliflowers were often enjoyed pickled or served in meat stews and pies. Part of the Cabbage family, Cauliflowers were believed to possess many of the same medicinal qualities. They were used to alleviate dim eyes; mixed with wine to counteract deafness; or the seeds were dried and used to “scour” the skin of freckles or sunburn.

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Celeriac was not very common in early modern Britain as the vegetable originated from the Mediterranean Basin. It was viewed as a curious novelty, however those who had tried it often reported it as superior to common Celery and tried to encourage and promote its use in Britain.  

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Chicory was believed to possess many medicinal qualities in the period from 1600-1800. When mixed with Rhubarb and the water of Snails and Earthworms, it was taken twice daily to ease imbalances in the Liver. Chicory was also recommended for “a purge”, a crucial ingredient in medicine taken to ease constipation, particularly in children. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Courgettes originated in the Americas, and despite many New World vegetables being quickly adopted in Europe, these prolific plants were not widely cultivated in Europe until the second half of the nineteenth century, when farmers in Northern Italy began to grow and eat them. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Endives were often used in salads in early modern Britain, particularly in the winter when fresh vegetables could be scarce. It was believed that using Endives in salad could comfort a weak stomach, and the vegetable was often suggested to ease aliments relating to the liver, such as jaundice. One medical recipe even suggested injecting distilled water of Endives and Roses to ease the passing of kidney stones. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Fennel was commonly used in early modern medicine, believed to cure a number of aliments. When ground into a water, they were imagined to help breastfeeding women produce milk. Other medicinal uses of Fennel seeds included easing nausea, opening obstructions in the lungs and kidneys, and improving eyesight and eye-ache. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Leeks were a very popular vegetable in the period from 1600-1800. They were used in many pies, soups, and stews. They were also used medicinally as burn ointment, to cure eye inflammations, and to ease coughs. Leeks were even part of an antidote to the bites of various venomous beasts. On St. David’s Day, it was tradition among many Welsh people to wear a green Leek on their hat throughout the day’s celebrations due to the affiliation of the patron saint with this vegetable. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

In the period 1600-1800, Mustard seeds were used to bring a warming flavour to many common dishes. The leaves of Mustard plants did not go to waste and were often chewed to alleviate tooth ache. Most interestingly, it was believed laying the leaves like a plaster on a patient’s head could help to prevent vertigo, or to ease the bruising on the scalp from anyone whose hair had been pulled out! 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Red and white Onions were used interchangeably in early modern period, and the culinary uses of both were very similar to the modern day. They were used to add flavour to sauces, soups, and meat dishes. Early modern cooks were warned against serving raw Onions as they were seen to induce headaches and dull the senses. Onions were also valued for their medical properties, used against rabies if the patient was bitten by an infected dog, or made into an ointment to cause hair to grow where the patient was suffering from baldness. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Red and white Onions were used interchangeably in early modern period, and the culinary uses of both were very similar to the modern day. They were used to add flavour to sauces, soups, and meat dishes. Early modern cooks were warned against serving raw Onions as they were seen to induce headaches and dull the senses. Onions were also valued for their medical properties, used against rabies if the patient was bitten by an infected dog, or made into an ointment to cause hair to grow where the patient was suffering from baldness. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Peppers and Chillies originated from the Americas and were initially viewed with some suspicion by Europeans due to their heat. To tame their spiciness, Europeans tried drying and grinding the plant, and using it in small quantities to season dishes. The plant was quickly cultivated in Europe, especially among poor farmers as it provided a means to add heat and flavour to a dish without having to pay for expensive imported spices. It was also believed that rubbing a mixture of Chilli Peppers and Honey into the skin could remove spots and other blemishes. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Peppers and Chillies originated from the Americas and were initially viewed with some suspicion by Europeans due to their heat. To tame their spiciness, Europeans tried drying and grinding the plant, and using it in small quantities to season dishes. The plant was quickly cultivated in Europe, especially among poor farmers as it provided a means to add heat and flavour to a dish without having to pay for expensive imported spices. It was also believed that rubbing a mixture of Chilli Peppers and Honey into the skin could remove spots and other blemishes. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Peppers and Chillies originated from the Americas and were initially viewed with some suspicion by Europeans due to their heat. To tame their spiciness, Europeans tried drying and grinding the plant, and using it in small quantities to season dishes. The plant was quickly cultivated in Europe, especially among poor farmers as it provided a means to add heat and flavour to a dish without having to pay for expensive imported spices. It was also believed that rubbing a mixture of Chilli Peppers and Honey into the skin could remove spots and other blemishes. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Peppers and Chillies originated from the Americas and were initially viewed with some suspicion by Europeans due to their heat. To tame their spiciness, Europeans tried drying and grinding the plant, and using it in small quantities to season dishes. The plant was quickly cultivated in Europe, especially among poor farmers as it provided a means to add heat and flavour to a dish without having to pay for expensive imported spices. It was also believed that rubbing a mixture of Chilli Peppers and Honey into the skin could remove spots and other blemishes. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Potatoes originated from the Americas but were quickly cultivated in Europe, prized for their wholesome and hearty nature. They were well suited to British climates, meaning the vegetable became very important to the diets and nourishment of working-class families, so much so that Potatoes were imagined to cheer the heart. Potatoes weren’t welcomed everywhere; in Burgundy and other regions of France Potatoes were banned as it was imagined they might cause leprosy if eaten too frequently! 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Potatoes originated from the Americas but were quickly cultivated in Europe, prized for their wholesome and hearty nature. They were well suited to British climates, meaning the vegetable became very important to the diets and nourishment of working-class families, so much so that Potatoes were imagined to cheer the heart. Potatoes weren’t welcomed everywhere; in Burgundy and other regions of France Potatoes were banned as it was imagined they might cause leprosy if eaten too frequently! 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Rocket was popular in salads in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. However, it was advised for Rocket to be mixed with other salad leaves, as when eaten alone it was imaged to cause headaches and heat to the body to excess. When mixed with vinegar, Rocket was used to clear the face of freckles, spots and other blemishes.

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Red and white Onions were used interchangeably in early modern period, and the culinary uses of both were very similar to the modern day. They were used to add flavour to sauces, soups, and meat dishes. Early modern cooks were warned against serving raw Onions as they were seen to induce headaches and dull the senses. Onions were also valued for their medical properties, used against rabies if the patient was bitten by an infected dog, or made into an ointment to cause hair to grow where the patient was suffering from baldness. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Salsify gained popularity in mid-eighteenth-century Britain, mostly as a garnish, however it never quite replaced other vegetables such as Asparagus. In nineteenth-century American cookbooks, Salsify was often made into fritters and served as a side dish for Christmas dinner. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Today we recognize Spinach as rich in iron and other nutrients. But in the early modern period, overconsumption of this plant was believed to cause nausea! Despite these concerns, Spinach was commonly eaten by many, and most often was used in salads and tarts, or as a garnish for meat dishes. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Squash originated from the Americas and was grown there in plentiful qualities by Indigenous and settler populations alike. Although it took some time for Squash to become widely popularised in Europe, the vegetable was believed in the early modern period to cleanse the body of obstructions and stoppages – including obstructions of the breast – or to purge urine. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Swedes were not widely cultivated in England until the second half of the eighteenth century. They were primarily used to feed cattle, pigs, and other animals. It’s clear that animals loved them – farmers encountered challenges growing Swedes in eighteenth-century Britain as hares devoured much of the crop during the winter months. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Tomatoes originated from the Americas. They were not immediately grown in Britain as the climate was too cold and the vegetable was believed to provide little nourishment. Tomatoes were quickly adopted around the Mediterranean in France, Italy and Spain. By the end of the eighteenth century, the vegetable had become popular in Britain, and was often eaten in soups or made into a ketchup. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Tomatoes originated from the Americas. They were not immediately grown in Britain as the climate was too cold and the vegetable was believed to provide little nourishment. Tomatoes were quickly adopted around the Mediterranean in France, Italy and Spain. By the end of the eighteenth century, the vegetable had become popular in Britain, and was often eaten in soups or made into a ketchup. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

In the early modern period, Chives were commonly used in cooking as a seasoning or garnish in soups and sauces. While Chives were frequently cited in recipes, some cautioned against over-use of the herb as it was imagined to create hot and harmful vapours which would hurt the eyes and brain and even cause bad dreams. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

The culinary uses of Garlic in early modern Britain bear many similarities to its modern uses. It was primarily used to add flavour to dishes, particularly in pickling. Garlic was also very important in early modern medicine, including killing parasitic worms and easing stomach-ache. Garlic was seen as an antidote to cold poisons and venous bites, and so was often recommended as a preventative medicine against the plague. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

In the early modern period, Chives were commonly used in cooking as a seasoning or garnish in soups and sauces. While Chives were frequently cited in recipes, some cautioned against over-use of the herb as it was imagined to create hot and harmful vapours which would hurt the eyes and brain and even cause bad dreams. 

Please note this information is research based on historic documents….and is not modern advice for health and wellness!

Ingredients: Courgettes, Sugar, Red Wine Vinegar, Onions, Tomatoes, Sultanas, Cinnamon, Red Chilli. Orange Rind, Salt*

*Salt = Non Organic

Ingredients: Tomatoes, Onion, Sugar, Wine Vinegar, Chillis, Garlic, Paprika, Ginger

All ingredients are organic

Ingredients: Red Cabbage, Apples, Red Onions, Red Wine Vinegar, Sugar, Sultanas, Mustard, Salt*

*Salt = Non Organic

Ingredients: Red Onions, Apple Juice, Red Wine Vinegar, Sugar

All ingredients are organics

Ingredients: Tomatoes, Onion, Sugar, Wine Vinegar, Chillis, Garlic, Paprika, Ginger

All ingredients are organic