Eggplant Month – July 1, 2026

History of Eggplant Month

There is no agreed-upon place of origin for the eggplant. However, there are mentions of it originating in India according to a few sources. The first written record of the eggplant is found in “Qimin Yaoshu,” a 544 B.C. Ancient Chinese text. Etymology and the presence of names for the vegetable suggest that the plant was not common in Greece and Rome. It is believed that they were grown in the Mediterranean region in the Middle Ages. A 12th-century book on agriculture by Ibn Al-Awwam already described how to grow eggplants.

The eggplant escaped British attention until the 16th century. As per a 1597 English botany book, written by John Gerrde, “this plant groweth in Egypt almost everywhere… bringing foorth fruite of the bignes of a great Cucumber…. We have had the same in our London gardens, where it hath borne flowers, but the winter approching before the time of ripening, it perished: notwithstanding it came to beare fruite of the bignes of a goose egge one extraordinarie temperate yeere… but never to the full ripenesse.” The eggplant has also been a part of folkloric traditions. Also, according to an Italian belief, eggplants can cause insanity.

While raw, the eggplant has a bitter taste. However, after being cooked, it becomes tender and has a rich taste. The vegetable is also very versatile, as it can be eaten by itself, as a filling for recipes, or even as a main course in vegan cuisine.