Od ćwikły do buraka – historia jednej rośliny
From ćwikła to burak – the story of one plant

Summary/Abstract: The earliest references to beetroot consumption in Poland date back to the late 14th century, from the accounts of the court of King Jadwiga and King Jagiełło, where the vegetable is first referred to as „czwikla”. The term „ćwikła”, appears in numerous historical texts up until the late 18th century. From the second half of the 17th century onward, however, the term „burak” gradually became the predominant name for the plant, likely due to the increased popularity of pickled beetroot during the 18th and 19th centuries. Although direct evidence of beetroot cultivation is limited, it can be inferred that in Poland, beetroot was primarily grown for its roots, as indicated by early references in royal court records. The first clear documentation of beetroot cultivation in Polish agricultural practices is found in Anzelm Gostomski’s 1588 agricultural manual „Gospodarstwo”. This plant were used to prepare a variety of dishes, not limited to borscht and ćwikła, but even pierog and cakes were made. Beetroot’s widespread consumption in Poland is reflected in both elite and common diets, with Father Stanisław Jundziłł reported that this vegetable, in Poland, was „so abundantly multiplied and so commonly eaten as nowhere else”. This popularity persists today, as Poland remains the largest producer of beetroot in the European Union. The continued cultivation and consumption of beets, and their importance in Polish tradition, make it one of the most Polish vegetables.

• Details
• Contents