Napa Cabbage

Details

Napa cabbage is a type of Chinese cabbage (along with bok choy), which originated near Beijing and is a widely-used vegetable in Asian cuisine. “Napa” doesn’t refer to the region in California; it comes from Japanese where nappa means the leaves of any vegetable used in food.

Napa cabbage is barrel shaped, has crinkly leaves, and varies in color from a pale green to white. It is a cool season vegetable that stores fairly well into the winter months. It has a more delicate flavor than bok choy or traditional cabbage, so those who do not like cabbage may find napa cabage a pleasing alternative.

Cabbage is vulnerable to many pests, so conventional growers often spray fields with chemicals. Choosing organic is the best way to reduce your exposure to chemicals in food.

Nutrition: Napa cabbage is a good source of vitamin C and contains many beneficial antioxidant compounts. It also has good amounts of vitamin K, folate, and smaller amounts of various vitamins and minerals.