At first, the sunflower was considered just an ornament for adorning botanical and private gardens. But by about the middle of the 18th century, its seeds came to be viewed as a delicacy.
Alguses kasvatati päevalille nii botaanika - kui ka eraaedades lihtsalt ilutaimena, ent 18. sajandi keskpaiku hakati hindama ka päevalille seemneid, mida peeti delikatessiks.