Parsley is a member of the carrot family that is original to the
Mediterranean and southern Europe, but is now widely cultivated all over
the world. This particular variety is commonly known as curly leaf
parsley.
There's a good reason fresh parsley is served with fish and other
"aromatic" foods in restaurants — parsley contains a high degree of
chlorophyll, which makes it an effective breath freshener. The ancient
Romans and Greeks, who appreciated the powerful deodorizing ability of
parsley long before it was considered food, relied on the herb to mask
unpleasant odors at funerals.
