Their name indicates that they were found in abundance in Ascalon in Palestine and that region might be a center of origin.
The Romans called it caepa Ascalonia, Ascalonia onion or simply ascalonia for seaport, giving clue to it geographical origins.
The shallot was introduced into France by Crusaders returning from Palestine. It was said that shallot to have grown in 12th centre in France.
Shallot is associated particularly with the cuisine of Bordeaux, but its influence has spread throughout the northern part of France.
By 13th century, the shallot was well known. The shallot was introduced to England in 1548 according to Henry Phillips in History of Cultivated Vegetables published in 1822.
By the 18th century the shallot was well known by English gardeners.
The name of shallot never mentioned in United States before 1954 and it never appeared in the recipe.
History of shallot
