With usage dating back as early as 5th century China, celery has become a well-known staple in a variety of dishes. Fresh, in-season celery plants – like those found at local farmer’s markets – grow up to three feet tall, are bright green and radiating with life. Celery is known to have a complex, strong, sweet and spicy aroma. The plant takes two years to fully mature and produce its small fruit, which are tan to brown in colour. The seeds are the primary repository for essential oil, which is extracted using steam distillation.