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Kale has been cultivated for centuries. We will inform you about the origin, provenance and history of this he althy vegetable.
Like some other types of cabbage, kale is descended from the "primeval cabbage", whose origins stretch along the coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea to Asia Minor. Most of the descendants of this ancient parent have spread around the world, but kale has become a speci alty in a few regions. Nowadays it is cultivated and valued above all in Great Britain, the Scandinavian countries, in Holland and also in northern Germany. But it is also partly planted in North America and in eastern and western Africa. There are various theories about the age of this type of cabbage. What is certain is that as early as 400 BC it was possible to determine from records that a type of cabbage with ruffled foliage was known at that time. The so-called Sabellian type of cabbage was mentioned again and again by the Romans and was already cultivated on a large scale. Finds and records confirm that this cabbage is probably the predecessor of the kale that we know today. The special property of thriving during the cold season and being very rich in vitamins makes this cabbage variety so valuable.
The kale and its regional popularity
The vitamin-rich winter vegetable is a real representative of North German cuisine, especially during the cold winter months. From about October to March, fresh green cabbage can always be purchased, which has primarily grown on German cultivation areas. There is still disagreement between Bremen and Oldenburg as to who may now call kale their own city speciality. The plus point here is clearly on the Bremen side, because public and communal consumption of kale has been held there annually since 1545. The largest cabbage-growing area in Europe is in the Dithmarschen area in northern Germany. However, not only kale grows here, many other types of cabbage are also traditionally planted in this region. Probably the most famous dish from this area is kale with pinkel, i.e. kale with a coarse-grained grützwurst.
The regional names of kale and its close relative
Due to its distribution in different areas, kale has been given a variety of names over time. So it is known as spring cabbage, slit cabbage, Krauskohl, winter cabbage, leaf cabbage, but also popularly known as Oldenburg palm or Frisian. The correct name in the botanical sense is Brassica oleracea convar. acéphala var. sabéllica. A close relative is cultivated in Italy, namely black cabbage (Cavalo nero). There are a few small differences in color and leaf shape, but the taste and preparation of the two are almost indistinguishable. In German hobby gardens, kale feels very comfortable and can be grown quite easily. This way you can put fresh greens from your own garden on your plate even over the winter.
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