Lembas was a food only the Eldar alone knew how to make, but it was not a food used for normal use. Only for those who were going on long journeys, or for those who was hurt and life was in danger was this food given. The Eldar did not give Lembas to Men, though a few received it, and only if they were loved of the Eldar and if they were in great need. The reason of this was of their mortality, and that they would desire to live among Elves, and long for the fields of Aman, where they could not come. The waybread of the Elves was given by massánie or besain, meaning the Lady, or breadgiver. The massánie or besain was Yavanna, the queen or the highest elven-woman among any people. Only these could give this waybread. The corm Lembas was made of has the strong life of Aman in it, and this strength would pass over to those who ate it, if eaten in need or right use. The Elves grew this corn in guarded lands and sunlit glades, and did never touch it by metal, but by hand. No worm would touch the gleaming straw, nor would any rot or other evils of Middle-earth assail it. The word Lembas is Sindarin, and comes from the older form lenn-mbass ‘journey-bread’. In Quenya it was named Coimas ‘life-bread’.