Cabbage has a long history in Germany. It was first mentioned in the 8th century and found ideal growing conditions in northern Germany. Cabbage was often considered a "poor people's food" and helped populations survive hard times. Today, there are many varieties of cabbage cultivated and celebrated in German culture and cuisine, including white, red, savoy, cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, and brussels sprouts. Sauerkraut production transformed cabbage into a vitamin-rich food that could be preserved for winter and was an important source of nutrition. Cabbage continues to be viewed for its healing properties and health benefits.
2. History
Cabbage in Germany
In medieval times cabbage started to become popular towards the north. Cabbage, during this period also knows
as „caulos“, had already been mentioned in the country estate regulation of Karl dem Großen in which he
determined 73 plants that should be planted on the imperial commodities at the end of the 8th century.
Especially in the north of Germany cabbage found the perfect growing conditions. Indeed, cabbage is not very
sophisiticated but it loves eutrophic land and needs a regular water supply. In the german coast region it grew
gorgeos. The North of Germany was the most important center of cabbage. This fact can still be seen in events
and the notorious cabbage tours. In the region of Dithmarschen in Schleswig Holstein even a cabbage street exists
which leads from Brunsbüttel throught the towns of the coast to the North up to Wesselburen and ends in Büsum.
In other geman regions the cabbage tradition is kept up as well. For example in Fildern, a production are on the
high plain in the south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden Württemberg, where they celebrate the Filderkrautfest in
October every year. It is said to be Germanys biggest cabbage event.
3. Poor People Food
During centuries cabbage often proves to be the rescue for the population when hard times arrived or a hard
winter had to be survived. Cabbage was said to be a „poor people food“. Exeptions were most likely cauliflower
and broccoli which were more precous and which were not banished from the noble kitchen.
After Word War II it was the Americans and the Britains that named the Germans „Krauts“, since in the 19th
century especially the imports from overseas pushed the cultivation of cabbage: The cultivation of cabbage
was not only very profitable but also substituted. The cultivation of corn lost its current value by cheap imports
and wasn‘t lucrative for the farmer anymore. After World War II the interest in cabbage descrased, the stucture
of the cabbage cultivating farms changed. Instead of many small farms mainly large ones took over the
production.
Today the cabbage in Germany experiences a small rebirth: Old types which are forgotten durin the industrial
cultivation are discovered again. The gastronomy in which especially the white cabbage has its problems to be
implemented in the last decades, the haute cuisine uses the all-round vegetables again.
History
4. German art of cabbage
Wild cabbage
Optically, the plant with its delicate yellow flowers has
generally nothing in common with its relatives red
cabbage, white cabbage and brussels sprouts. Because
of the slightly curly and green leafs it is actually similar to
green cabbage. But in fact the wild cabbage – or cliff
cabbage, how it is called on the island of Helgoland - is
the ancestor of all of our todays cabbage types.
5. The red cabbage
The red cabbe belongs to the round cabbage types. Its
leafs are strong, ceraceous and closed to a strong head.
The colour of its leafs is the reason for its names: Due to
the pH value of the ground, the cabbage becomes red,
blue or purple. The more sour the ground is, the more
red the cabbage gets. It also is a famous winter
vegetable. It tastes rather sweet.
German art of cabbage
6. Savoy cabbage
The savoy is, just like its relatives white and red cabbage
a round cabbage type and can be easily identified by its
distinctive, curly leafs. The savoy came to Germany in
the 18. century. The leafs are more loose grown and
there are types which are round or types that taper.
German art of cabbage
7. Cauliflower
Nobody knows exaclty where the cauliflower comes from.
Supposedly there were the crusaders that brought the
seed to Italy in the 16th century. From there it found its
way to Europes gardens and kitchens. Today the
califlower i spread all over the world. The special feature
of the cauliflower: already in the first year the florescence
develop – the part of the flower that can be eaten later.
The green leafs sourround the buds and protect them
from the light. That‘s because the cauliflower normally
stays white.
German art of cabbage
8. Broccoli
The Broccoli is a close relative of the cauliflower – here
you also eat the still closed florescences, the so called
roses, not the leafs. Probably the broccoli came from
Asia over Italy to Germany as well. In contrary to the
cauliflower it is not known for so long. Broccoli is now
cultivatet in Germany as well. Since some of the 150
types that are available in the European Union can
manage temperatures up to minus 5 degrees it is
suitable for a late vegetable.
German art of cabbage
9. Grünkohl/Lippische Palme
Grünkohl ist nicht nur ein Gemüse, Grünkohl ist Kult.
Zumindest im Norden Deutschlands. Die
schnellwüchsige Blattkohlart mit den großen, krausen
Blättern steht normalerweise bis nach dem ersten Frost
auf dem Feld. Dann reichern sich die Blätter mit mehr
Traubenzucker an und schmecken schlicht besser.
Während der Grünkohl in südlichen Gefilden weniger
bekannt ist, entwickelte sich vor allem im Norden
Deutschlands der Anbau.
Neben dem normalen Grünkohl gibt es noch einige
regionale Varianten, deren eine die Lippische Palme in
Ostwestfalen ist. Diese Pflanze wird gut zwei Meter hoch,
gegessen werden nur die oberen Blätter.
German art of cabbage
10. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts is not only the smallest representative of its
species but the youngest as well. At the end of the 18th century
the Belgians startet to cultivate the vegetable. On a trunk that is
50 to 100 centimetres hight grow large, dark green leafs in which
the buds shape. The small roses are only few centimetres big and
approx. 100 are growing on one trunk.
German art of cabbage
11. Stem cabbage
The small stem cabbage is a cabbage type as wll, but
here there are neither the flowers, nor he leafs the can
be eaten but the thick main trunk that growth over the
earth. The sturdy stem cabbage is about 30 centimetres
high and can really deal with frost what makes it to a
good winter vegetable. It can be eaten raw as well as
cooked.
German art of cabbage
12. Chinakohl
Der Chinakohl ist in seiner Heimat Asien schon seit gut
1500 Jahren bekannt. Er soll aus einer Kreuzung
zwischen Speiserübe und Pak Choi (Senfkohl)
entstanden sein. Da auch der Chinakohl sehr
vitaminreich ist, ist er in den Wintermonaten ein
bedeutender Vitamin-C-Lieferant. In Europa wurde der
Chinakohl erst im 20. Jahrhundert bekannt, erst seit ein
paar Jahrzehnten hielt er als Gemüse oder Salat Einzug
in deutschen Küchen.
German art of cabbage
13. .
Cabbage – Vegetable with healing power
In acient times cabbage was an universal remed.
In the ancient Greece and Rome people used cabbage in order to cure abdominal pain of women. The
roman statesman Cato the older has already described the plant as an universal remedy 2000 years
ago. Aristoteles ate the vegetable after he drank foo much, supposedly to antagonize an hangover.
And the cleric savant and medical person Albertus Magnus declared that cabbage helps against
tumors and gout. Additionally the vegetabel was used to clean skin and blood.
Cabbage is abounded in vitamins, calcium and co
100 grams of white coal contain the same amount of vitamin c as a glass of orange juice. More vitamin
c has broccoli and brussels sprouts. The vitamins A, B, E and K as wll as the minerals calcium, iron
and magnesium can be found in cabbage.
This vegetabel should prevent from cancer
Cabbage contains secondary plant compounds that should prevent from cancer including the so called
glucosinolates. These shout protect the cabbage plants from enemies, bacterias or fungi. To the body
these natural poisons have a cancer retarding effect. Additionally they should help in case of a
gastritis, heartburn or an inflammation of the gullet.
Cabbage – veggetable with virtue
14. Cabbage – veggetable with virtue
.
Good for the gut
Cabbage not only prevents from illnesses but can also relieve them. This has been found out by academics at
the John-Hopkins-Universitiy in Baltimore. They used broccoli for persons with steadily narrowed pulmonary
emphysemia. The compound sulforaphan decelerates the reduction of the important enzyme in the body of
the sick person. The symptomes decreased. Cabbage contains a large amount of a special protein
(Methylmthionin). It can can protect stomach and gut from tumors.
Down with the cholesterol
All kinds of cabbage contain a lot of fibels that are recommended for a healthy nutrition. On its way throught
the digestive system, cabbage adheres to the gut for a long time and the fibeld pick up harmful substances
and poisons. In the colon fibers are dismantled by bacteria.
Cabbage sleeves against inflammations
The healing power of cabbage should not only unfold itself in the body. In former times people used cabbage
sleeves in order to decrease the symptoms of a sore throat and other infections. Therefore they cleaned the
cabbage leafs, cut out the trunk and rolled it until the juice came out. Then they put the leafs on the spot that
is infected and hurts. Up to the the 19th century this method was used to deal with wounds. Naturophath still
use it against joint pain.
15. Typical German
The history of sauerkraut
How the sauerkraut was spread all over Europe has not been
cleared yet. It is assumed that mongolic tribes bougt the chinese
variation of the sour cabbage to Europe in the 13th century.
From the medival age on it was common to plant cabbage in the
own garden in the northern parts of Europe as well. Everybody
produced his sauerkraut on his own, layed in in barrels and is
perishable throughout the winter. In times when vegetables could
only be conserved by inlaying, ensiling or in dried form sauerkraut
was the most important vitamin deliverer for the cold time of ther year.
In the 19th century the cultivation of cabbage and the production of sauerkraut started on a grand
scale.In times of hunger and after the two world wars both again became important vegetabels on
german menus. But after that the interest decreased again. With the modern food production, imports
and better conservation methods cabbage lost its meaning step by step. Vegetrables were available
throughout the year, could be buyed chilled or in cans. Cabbage was now said to be a foof for the
poor. But an incrasing health awareness and the focus on regional products make the sauerkraut
again interesting today.
16. Typisch Deutsch
Production:
White cabbage, salt, pressure and lactid acid
Basically, only two ingedients are necessary to make sauerkraut: White cabbage and salt.
The rest is made by lactic acid bakteria. There are types of cabbage that are more suitable
that others. Very suitable is the Fliederkraut from the region of Stuttgart, a lacy white
cabbage that ensues a very special sauerkraut.
After the harvest the externel leafs of the white cabbage are removed and cutted without
the trunk. Then the cutted cabbage is mixed with salt and filled into glass containers. Now it
is very imporant that the cabbage gets pressure. The pressure and the salt destroy the cells
of the cabbage, water and air can escape and the fermentation process can start.
Bacteria proliferate and produce lactic acid. In few days the cabbage has its typical sour
taste and in the same time the development of unwanted microbes is stopped. After ten to
twelve days the sauerkraut has a lactic acid content of ca. 1%.
17. Typisch Deutsch
Vitaminbomb sauerkraut
From the medival age on cabbage was planted in the private garden. Everybody produces
his own sauerkraut – inlaid in barreld and maintainable throughout the winter. Now
sauerkraut became the vitamin deliverer for the cold time of the year. That was also known
by sailors like James cook which took barrels of sauerkraut with him on his long trips in
order to prevent the crew of getting scurvy, an illness wich is triggert by a lack of vitamin c.
Sauerkraut is very healthy, since it is very lite and has no fat. It includes many fibers,
minerals, lactic acid and the vitamins A, B, C, E and K. In the naturopathy sauerkraut is
used at gut problems, since it helps to regenerate the gut flora. The lactic acid of the
sauerkraut can mortify microbes.
Notas do Editor
Cabbage in Germany
In medieval times cabbage started to become popular towards the north. Cabbage, during this period also knows as „caulos“, had already been mentioned in the country estate regulation of Karl dem Großen in which he determined 73 plants that should be planted on the imperial commodities at the end of the 8th century.
Especially in the north of Germany cabbage found the perfect growing conditions. Indeed, cabbage is not very sophisiticated but it loves eutrophic land and needs a regular water supply. In the german coast region it grew gorgeos. The North of Germany was the most important center of cabbage. This fact can still be seen in events and the notorious cabbage tours. In the region of Dithmarschen in Schleswig Holstein even a cabbage street exists which leads from Brunsbüttel throught the towns of the coast to the North up to Wesselburen and ends in Büsum. In other geman regions the cabbage tradition is kept up as well. For example in Fildern, a production are on the high plain in the south of Stuttgart, the capital of Baden Württemberg, where they celebrate the Filderkrautfest in October every year. It is said to be Germanys biggest cabbage event.
Poor People Food
During centuries cabbage often proves to be the rescue for the population when hard times arrived or a hard winter had to be survived. Cabbage was said to be a „poor people food“. Exeptions were most likely cauliflower and broccoli which were more precous and which were not banished from the noble kitchen.
After Word War II it was the Americans and the Britains that named the Germans „Krauts“, since in the 19th century especially the imports from overseas pushed the cultivation of cabbage: The cultivation of cabbage was not only very profitable but also substituted. The cultivation of corn lost its current value by cheap imports and wasn‘t lucrative for the farmer anymore. After World War II the interest in cabbage descrased, the stucture of the cabbage cultivating farms changed. Instead of many small farms mainly large ones took over the production.
Today the cabbage in Germany experiences a small rebirth: Old types which are forgotten durin the industrial cultivation are discovered again. The gastronomy in which especially the white cabbage has its problems to be implemented in the last decades, the haute cuisine uses the all-round vegetables again.
Wild cabbage
Optically, the plant with its delicate yellow flowers has generally nothing in common with its relatives red cabbage, white cabbage and brussels sprouts. Because of the slightly curly and green leafs it is actually similar to green cabbage. But in fact the wild cabbage – or cliff cabbage, how it is called on the island of Helgoland - is the ancestor of all of our todays cabbage types
The red cabbage
The red cabbe belongs to the round cabbage types. Its leafs are strong, ceraceous and closed to a strong head. The colour of its leafs is the reason for its names: Due to the pH value of the ground, the cabbage becomes red, blue or purple. The more sour the ground is, the more red the cabbage gets. It also is a famous winter vegetable. It tastes rather sweet.
Savoy cabbage
The savoy is, just like its relatives white and red cabbage a round cabbage type and can be easily identified by its distinctive, curly leafs. The savoy came to Germany in the 18. century. The leafs are more loose grown and there are types which are round or types that taper.
Cauliflower
Nobody knows exaclty where the cauliflower comes from. Supposedly there were the crusaders that brought the seed to Italy in the 16th century. From there it found its way to Europes gardens and kitchens. Today the califlower i spread all over the world. The special feature of the cauliflower: already in the first year the florescence develop – the part of the flower that can be eaten later. The green leafs sourround the buds and protect them from the light. That‘s because the cauliflower normally stays white.
Broccoli
The Broccoli is a close relative of the cauliflower – here you also eat the still closed florescences, the so called roses, not the leafs. Probably the broccoli came from Asia over Italy to Germany as well. In contrary to the cauliflower it is not known for so long. Broccoli is now cultivatet in Germany as well. Since some of the 150 types that are available in the European Union can manage temperatures up to minus 5 degrees it is suitable for a late vegetable.
Green Cabbage
Green cabbage is not only a vegetable, green cabbage is cult – at least in the northern part of Germany. The fast growing leaf cabbage with its large curly leafs normally stays on the field until the fiirst frost lays behind. Then the leafs are enriched with more glucose and simply taste better. While the green cabbage is not as famous in southern regions the culivation developes in the north of Germany.
Besides the normal green cabbage there are some regional variations, e.g. the „Lippische Palme“ in Ostwestfalen. This Plant grows up to two metres, eaten are only the hightest leafs.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts is not only the smallest representative of its species but the youngest as well. At the end of the 18th century the Belgians startet to cultivate the vegetable. On a trunk that is 50 to 100 centimetres hight grow large, dark green leafs in which the buds shape. The small roses are only few centimetres big and approx. 100 are growing on one trunk.
Stem cabbage
The small stem cabbage is a cabbage type as wll, but here there are neither the flowers, nor he leafs the can be eaten but the thick main trunk that growth over the earth. The sturdy stem cabbage is about 30 centimetres high and can really deal with frost what makes it to a good winter vegetable. It can be eaten raw as well as cooked.
Chinese cabbage
The chinese cabbage is known in its home country Asia for more that 1500 years. It is said to be a mixture of eatable turnip and pak choi. Sice the Chinese cabbage ist full of vitamines as well it is an important Vitamin c producer in the winter months.Europe knows the chinese cabbage since the 20th century and in German kitchens it is used as a vegetable or salad since some decades.
Cabbage – Vegetable with healing power
In acient times cabbage was an universal remed.
In the ancient Greece and Rome people used cabbage in order to cure abdominal pain of women. The roman statesman Cato the older has already described the plant as an universal remedy 2000 years ago. Aristoteles ate the vegetable after he drank foo much, supposedly to antagonize an hangover. And the cleric savant and medical person Albertus Magnus declared that cabbage helps against tumors and gout. Additionally the vegetabel was used to clean skin and blood.
Cabbage is abounded in vitamins, calcium and co
100 grams of white coal contain the same amount of vitamin c as a glass of orange juice. More vitamin c has broccoli and brussels sprouts. The vitamins A, B, E and K as wll as the minerals calcium, iron and magnesium can be found in cabbage.
This vegetabel should prevent from cancer
Cabbage contains secondary plant compounds that should prevent from cancer including the so called glucosinolates. These shout protect the cabbage plants from enemies, bacterias or fungi. To the body these natural poisons have a cancer retarding effect. Additionally they should help in case of a gastritis, heartburn or an inflammation of the gullet.
Good for the gut
Cabbage not only prevents from illnesses but can also relieve them. This has been found out by academics at the John-Hopkins-Universitiy in Baltimore. They used broccoli for persons with steadily narrowed pulmonary emphysemia. The compound sulforaphan decelerates the reduction of the important enzyme in the body of the sick person. The symptomes decreased. Cabbage contains a large amount of a special protein (Methylmthionin). It can can protect stomach and gut from tumors.
Down with the cholesterol
All kinds of cabbage contain a lot of fibels that are recommended for a healthy nutrition. On its way throught the digestive system, cabbage adheres to the gut for a long time and the fibeld pick up harmful substances and poisons. In the colon fibers are dismantled by bacteria.
Cabbage sleeves against inflammations
The healing power of cabbage should not only unfold itself in the body. In former times people used cabbage sleeves in order to decrease the symptoms of a sore throat and other infections. Therefore they cleaned the cabbage leafs, cut out the trunk and rolled it until the juice came out. Then they put the leafs on the spot that is infected and hurts. Up to the the 19th century this method was used to deal with wounds. Naturophath still use it against joint pain.
Typical German
The history of sauerkraut
How the sauerkraut was spread all over Europe has not been cleared yet. It is assumed that mongolic tribes bougt the chinese variation of the sour cabbage to Europe in the 13th century.
From the medival age on it was common to plant cabbage in the own garden in the northern parts of Europe as well. Everybody produced his sauerkraut on his own, layed in in barrels and is perishable throughout the winter. In times when vegetables could only be conserved by inlaying, ensiling or in dried form sauerkraut was the most important vitamin deliverer for the cold time of ther year.
In the 19th century the cultivation of cabbage and the production of sauerkraut started on a grand scale.In times of hunger and after the two world wars both again became important vegetabels on german menus. But after that the interest decreased again. With the modern food production, imports and better conservation methods cabbage lost its meaning step by step. Vegetrables were available throughout the year, could be buyed chilled or in cans. Cabbage was now said to be a foof for the poor. But an incrasing health awareness and the focus on regional products make the sauerkraut again interesting today.
Production:
White cabbage, salt, pressure and lactid acid
Basically, only two ingedients are necessary to make sauerkraut: White cabbage and salt. The rest is made by lactic acid bakteria. There are types of cabbage that are more suitable that others. Very suitable is the Fliederkraut from the region of Stuttgart, a lacy white cabbage that ensues a very special sauerkraut.
After the harvest the externel leafs of the white cabbage are removed and cutted without the trunk. Then the cutted cabbage is mixed with salt and filled into glass containers. Now it is very imporant that the cabbage gets pressure. The pressure and the salt destroy the cells of the cabbage, water and air can escape and the fermentation process can start.
Bacteria proliferate and produce lactic acid. In few days the cabbage has its typical sour taste and in the same time the development of unwanted microbes is stopped. After ten to twelve days the sauerkraut has a lactic acid content of ca. 1%.
Vitaminbomb sauerkraut
From the medival age on cabbage was planted in the private garden. Everybody produces his own sauerkraut – inlaid in barreld and maintainable throughout the winter. Now sauerkraut became the vitamin deliverer for the cold time of the year. That was also known by sailors like James cook which took barrels of sauerkraut with him on his long trips in order to prevent the crew of getting scurvy, an illness wich is triggert by a lack of vitamin c. Sauerkraut is very healthy, since it is very lite and has no fat. It includes many fibers, minerals, lactic acid and the vitamins A, B, C, E and K. In the naturopathy sauerkraut is used at gut problems, since it helps to regenerate the gut flora. The lactic acid of the sauerkraut can mortify microbes.
