Cabbages Cabbages & Mustards

Cabbages & Mustards (Botanists call them all Mustards) are a huge family (Brassicaceae or Brassicas (formerly Cruciferae)) that accounts for most of the winter greens and root vegetables humanity has depended on to make it through 'till spring.

Americans, with a seemingly limitless supply of cheap meat and potatoes, have held cabbages in disregard but would do well to become more familiar with them for reasons of health, economy and because properly prepared they taste good.


Magnolia
Magnolias

logo
Ingredients


Wild Cabbage Wild cabbage, shown in the photo, is native to the coasts of western and southern Europe. All our familiar Western cabbages, including cauliflower, broccoli, kale and others, were developed from this wild plant by human intervention. Asian cabbages, in contrast, are related to turnips but have also been breed into many varieties. The Brassica Family Tree explains the relationships.

In China, even today, apartments with balconies are preferred so there's a cool place to store a mound of cabbages for the winter. Koreans bury huge jars in the ground in which to make chili lacedsauerkraut (kimchi) without which no meal would be complete. Germany wouldn't really be Germany without sauerkaraut, now would it? Where would the Slavic and Nordic countries be without Cabbage, Turnips and Radishes? Probably depopulated. In past times these vegetables meant the difference between survival and not.

Cabbage Greens Cabbage Greens

Head Cabbages, Mustard Greens.

Cabbage Flowers Cabbage Flowers

Broccoli, Cauliflower.

Cabbage Roots Cabbage Roots

Radishes, Turnips, etc.

Cabbage Family Brassica Family Tree

(Top)

Links

©Andrew Grygus - ajg@aaxnet.com - Linking and non-commercial use permitted
All trademarks and trade names are recognized as property of their owners