ɔːlðˈoʊ ˈɔfən sˈaɪɾᵻd æz bˌiːɪŋ fɹʌm tʃˈaɪnə, ɪt mˈoːɹ lˈaɪkli ɚɹˈoʊz sˈʌmwɛɹ ɪn saʊθwˈɛstɚn ˈeɪʒə, wˌɛɹ ɪt wʌz fˈɜːst saɪəntˈɪfɪkli dᵻskɹˈaɪbd fɹʌm kˈʌltᵻvˌeɪɾᵻd plˈænts ɪnðə sˈɛvəntˌiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, pˈɑːsᵻbli ɪɹˈæn ɔːɹ æfɡˈænɪstˌæn, ɔːɹ pˌækɪstˈæn, wˌɛɹ ɪt hˈæzbiːn kˈʌltᵻvˌeɪɾᵻd sˈɪns ˈeɪntʃənt tˈaɪmz.
Although often cited as being from China, it more likely arose somewhere in southwestern Asia, where it was first scientifically described from cultivated plants in the 17th century, possibly Iran or Afghanistan, or Pakistan, where it has been cultivated since ancient times.