Watercress is one of oldest leaf vegetables consumed by humans. Hippocrates, father of modern medicine, used it to treat patients about 400 B.C. Later it became a staple of Roman soldiers as they brought the Pax Romana across much of Europe, along with a portion of Africa and Asia. Throughout medieval Europe on into the 19th century it remained popular, picked from the wild. It was first grown commercially in Britain in 1808 by Kent horticulturist William Bradbury.
High in nutrients and especially vitamin K watercress is remarkably low in calories. Unlike many other media-promoted 'super foods' it tops the list of such compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Confusingly, it is botanically referred to as
Nasturtium officinale but is totally unrelated to the garden flower of the same, although common, name. Rather it is cousin to garden cress, mustard, radish, wasabi, as well as kale and broccoli. In flavour it is redolent of these. It is delicious served the traditional way in sandwiches, although these were once denigrated as 'the workman's lunch.' It is also a tasty addition to salads or added a few minutes before serving to soups. Other kitchen uses abound.
Since the days of Hippocrates, watercress found traditional use as a diuretic and "blood purifier." It was also used to treat lethargy, rheumatism, heart trouble, bronchitis and goiter. More successful would have been as a cure for scurvy. A curse in the days of long sea voyages aboard slow-moving sailing ships, the aquatic or semi-aquatic perennial was native to Europe and Asia but spread around the world. It is widely naturalized in North America. Caution should be exercised before collecting from the wild that its water habitat is unpolluted, naturally or otherwise.
Nasturtium officinale is best grown in slightly alkaline water. Commercially it is often cultivated in the headstreams in chalk hills but demand is so great that even when raised hydroponically, it is not enough. A disadvantage from the retail sales is that it stores fresh for a short period. Keen fanciers can avoid this by raising it from seed in pots kept lightly shaded and constantly moist. Ideally, however, a garden pond is the best location for the home horticulturalist.
Commercially watercress is cultivated in many locations around the world. Especially notable are the English counties of Hampshire, Wiltshire, Hertfordshire and Dorset, all famed for their rolling chalk hills. Huntsville, Alabama has claimed since the 1940s to be the "watercress capital or the world," Alresford lays claim to the UK's watercress capital. The attractive community near Winchester in the heart of ancient Wessex, hosts an annual Watercress Festival. It attracts more than 15,000 visitors who can even travel on preserved steam railway, appropriately dubbed the 'Watercress Line.' Eat your watercress sandwich out, Huntsville.
