Origin
Persia and the region extending from the Caucasus to Afghanistan

Etymology
From the Arabic "isbinãkh"

General information
Herbaceous edible plant, of which the long dark green leaves are eaten.

Originally from Persia, Turkestan and Afghanistan, spinach was introduced to Spain by the Moors and has been grown there since the 11th century. It spread throughout Europe, especially among the peasants, from the 16th century onwards. King Louis XVIII had a passion for spinach, though his doctor forbade it to him since he suffered from gout - advice which provoked a fit of anger that became famous throughout the kingdom. In Islamic countries spinach is called "the prince of vegetables."