If there were a prize for the world’s most demanding diner, the silkworm would win it hands down. For thousands of years, this tiny creature has followed a strict rule: it loves only one thing—the mulberry leaf. This isn’t just a preference; it is a biological obsession written into its DNA.
Surprisingly, this “picky eating” is the very reason we have the world’s most luxurious fabric. Without the silkworm’s stubborn diet, we wouldn’t have the legendary strength and softness of Chinese silk
China was the first nation to unlock the secrets of the silkworm, and for centuries, those secrets were guarded like gold. Today, we know that the “merit” of silk lies in its history. It has been a constant companion to humanity for over 5,000 years, flowing like a gentle stream through the ages.
Today, silk has moved from the realm of ancient spirits into our daily wardrobes. When you wrap a silk scarf around your neck, you aren’t just wearing a fashion accessory. You are wearing a 6,000-year-old legacy of nature, science, and art.
The Evolution of a Gourmet Habit
The bond between the silkworm and the mulberry tree started roughly 18 million years ago. Originally, mulberry trees were evergreen giants living in tropical heat. Over millions of years, they moved into cooler climates and evolved into the lush, deciduous trees we know today.
While other insects are happy to eat roots or bark, the silkworm focuses solely on the leaves. Interestingly, silkworms aren’t born strictly wanting mulberry.
They are physically capable of eating elm, fig, or willow leaves. However, because they have lived and reproduced on mulberry trees for countless generations, they have developed a hereditary “craving” for them.
The Science of Scent
How does a tiny worm find its favorite meal? Through a powerful sense of smell. Scientists have isolated a minty, volatile oil from mulberry leaves. Even from 12 inches away—a massive distance for a tiny larva—a silkworm can catch the scent and will immediately start crawling toward it.
This biological “GPS” is what allows the silkworm to thrive. By consuming the specific nutrients found in mulberry leaves, the silkworm produces the fine, high-tensile thread that makes silk scarves so incredibly soft and durable.
6,000 Years of History in Every Thread
The story of silk is the story of civilization itself. In Northern China, archaeologists recently unearthed six stone and pottery silkworm pupae at the Shicun site in Shanxi Province. These artifacts are over 6,000 years old, proving that humans were already honoring the silkworm at the dawn of history.
Further south, at the famous Sanxingdui ruins, traces of silk were found in ancient sacrificial pits. For the people of that era, silk wasn’t just clothing—it was a spiritual bridge between the earth and the heavens.
