Kale is sometimes used as an ornamental, but people mainly grow it for its edible leaves. The vegetable is sometimes referred to as leaf cabbage. They are also considered to be closer to wild cabbage than other cultivated types of cabbage. Kale can have either purple or green leaves and they don’t form a head like cabbage. The plant has a high tolerance for extreme weather and has its peak during the winter. Kale’s taste becomes sweeter after it survives the frost.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Order: Brassicales
- Family: Brassicaceae
- Genus: Brassica
- Family: B. oleracea
- Trinomial name: Brassica oleracea var. viridis
Kale Trivia
- Kale was first mentioned in America in 1669, although it is believed that the vegetable was used before that due to its popularity in Europe.
- Some types of curly-leaved Kale were used in Ancient Greece four centuries BC. The Romans called them Sabellian Kale.
- People from Ireland mix kale with mashed potatoes to prepare a traditional dish named colcannon. It is often used on Halloween when it’s usually served with sausages.