Rhubarb |
A Potted History of Rhubarb |
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Botanical family Polygonaceae genus Rheum species rhabarbarum . Its origin is the western and north western provinces of China and including Tibet . The first use of rhubarb was as a medicine but in the 18th Century it was cultivated for cooking. Rhubarb is a perennial plantwhich forms large fleshy Rhizomes(roots) and has large leaves at the top of large fleshy petioles. |
Famous Tales of Rhubarb |
Rhubarb was given to the Emperor Wu of the Liang dynasty in 557 to cure his fever but only after warning him that rhubarb , being a most potent drug, must be taken in moderation. During the Yuan dynasty (12 century) a christian sentenced to a hard punishment was pardoned after using previously collected rhubarb to heal some soldiers. In the 17th century the emperor Guangzong was cured after a heavy night with four ladies caused him severe illness. And by the 19th century trade from China to the west included both tea and rhubarb. |
Rhubarb in Europe |
The first record of rhubarb in Europe was in 1608 when it was grown in Italy . In Banbury in 1762 plants were raised from seed and medicines raised from the crop of excellent quality. Both R officinal R. emodi were cultivated for these properties. The first use of rhubarb as food is listed as in pies and tarts. |
Rhubarb in Medicine |
An Asian plant with mysterious cathartic powers, medicinal rhubarb spurred European trade expeditions and obsessive scientific study from the renaissance until the twentieth century. Rarely, however had there been a plant that so thoroughly frustrated Europeans efforts to acquire it and to master its special botanical and chemical properties. This is an intriguing tale of how humans and their institutions have been affected by natural realities they do not truly comprehend. |
Rhubarb in Gardening |
Grown for centuries as a medicinal plant, the Victorian gardeners selected the species and bred varieties which gave fleshy edible stems. These although sharp to taste were much improved by growing without light when the sugar acid ratios changed dramatically to produce a sweet fruit in the late Winter and early Spring. From this early start came the Yorkshire forcing industry which exploited the early onset of winter and the good growing conditions found in the Wakefield area |
Rhubarb in Cooking |
During the 19th century many individuals experimented with combinations of rhubarb pastry and sugar . However the real development took place in the latter years of the Napoleonic wars when several London market gardeners especially the Myatt family began to grow and select rhubarb for the table on a large scale. It was at this time that the price of Carribean sugar began to fall and so vigorous advertising and this fact helped increase its popularity. |
What is Forced Rhubarb? |
Traditionally Forced Rhubarb was grown in very low wide sheds with dirt floors. All light was excluded and cutters used first candles and then low level miners lamps so that the leaf of the emerging crop had no chance of turning green. The roots were lifted from outside in November after the first cold spell of the winter and before the ground froze. Heat was provided from stoves in order to encourage the crop to grow, regular watering ensured that the roots did not dry out too quickly during the forcing process. The work was hard and heavy and with not a little mistique due to the fact no one was allowed in the sheds except the pickers. |
Rhubarb's Role in the 21st Century |
The crop became most popular in the 1960's but fell from favour as canteen dinners faded from our British culture and exotic fruits from abroad became more freely available to the housewife. In the last 10 years costs of production have been reduced and the products are increasingly appearing in the now vast "cookery world" literature. In reality there is a need for a real marketing development of the crop, attempts are being made but a year round focus is needed to get all producers and retailers behind the crop. |
The "Rhubarb Triangle" |
There is an annual rhubarb festival in Wakefield ( January) the so called capital of the Rhubarb triangle (which consists of Wakefield- Rothwell - Morley) . It is intended as a celebration of forced rhubarb traditions, history and culinary delights. In its first year it lasted for 5 days, but has now been extended to 8 days. Events include gourmet meals cookery demonstrations and farm tours. |
