Red Cabbage

The red cabbage is a kind of cabbage, also known as purple cabbage, red kraut, or blue kraut after preparation. Its leaves are coloured dark red/purple. However, the plant changes its colour according to the pH value of the soil, due to a pigment belonging to anthocyanins. In acidic soils, the leaves grow more reddish, in neutral soils they will grow more purple, while an alkaline soil will produce rather greenish-yellow coloured cabbages. This explains the fact that the same plant is known by different colours in various regions. Furthermore, the juice of red cabbage can be used as a home-made pH indicator, turning red in acid and green/yellow in basic solutions. It can be found in Northern Europe, throughout the Americas, and in China.

Red Conehead or Kalibos cabbage has deep purple leaves that grow in a rosette creating a conical in shape in the center. The outer leaves are a light to dark green with reddish-purple veins and a maroon hue. Once the outer leaves are removed, the cone head shape is more apparent. Kalibos cabbage is long and somewhat heart-shaped with a wide, round base. It can weigh up to 2 pounds when fully mature, though it’s still considered a “mini” variety. The outer leaves are tender and make good wrappers. The inner leaves are crisp and have a mildly sweet flavor without the typical bitterness of some cabbage varieties.Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Selenium, Calcium, and Fiber. Cabbage, both red and white are widely available for harvest inside Turkey.