Imperial Horseradish

Although Horseradish was cultivated in antiquity by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans there is no certainty when it was introduced into Britain. Recently I was told it was brought here by the Romans and was lead on a foraging trip along an old Roman road. The Fosse Way ran from Exeter to Lincoln, a distance of 182 miles and in my county of Warwickshire its route is now followed by the B4455. According to my guide the Romans planted it alongside their roads and it still grows there in abundance today. I can certainly imagine some poor cold Roman legionnaire using its heat to cheer himself up.

After quite a bit of research on Google I am none the wiser whether this is fact or fiction. I prefer to believe it and now view my transplanted roots as a direct descendant of those Roman plantings and thus, Imperial Horseradish.