Types Of Kale
Kale is a green-leaved (or purple-leaved sometimes) vegetable that was famous even in ancient times. There are actually many types of kale, but in this article we will focus only on the most common of those types of kale.
Curly kale is by far the most common of all types of kale, since it is available almost in every grocery store. Its leaves are obviously curly (hence the name) and its taste is a bit pungent. Curly kale is often used in salads, along with olive, salt, and garlic in order to add flavor.
Dinosaur kale, Italian kale, Tuscan cabbage, and Black Tuscan kale, are all different names that basically refer to the same type of kale, namely the lascinato kale, which was originally grown in Italy and as a result has been a common ingredient in Italian recipes for centuries. Lacinato kale can also be eaten raw in salads or you can choose to steam it. It is different from curly kale both in its appearance and in terms of taste. While curly kale is pungent, lacinato kale is rather sweet. It is also dark green in color (not lively green) and its leaves are long, straight, and narrow (instead of wide and curly.
The third most common among the various types of kale is the ornamental kale. It has nothing to be jealous of others flowers: the ornamental kale has wide green leaves, and at the center of them a white-leaved core. The outer leaves are vanilla white, but as you move to the center of the core, leaves become more and more creamy, and ultimately red. Although this type of kale has been known for its appearance for years, it was not until recently that people started to use it in their recipes. In fact, the ornamental kale has a soft texture and sweet (almost mellow-like) taste.
Other types of kale include but are not limited to: the premier kale, the Siberian kale, the redbor kale, the walking stick kale, the red Russian kale, and the kamome red kale. The first two types of kale (the premier and the Siberian) are known for their ability to resist cold and grow under harsh weather conditions, and their ability to mature relatively fast compared to other types of kale. The redbor kale, on the other hand, is famous for its dark red/purple color, while the walking stick kale is a unique variety that can reach up to two meters in height, given that there are optimum conditions for it to grow. As for the kamome red and the Russian red kale, these are basically types of kale that are admired for their beauty, rather than their flavor, since they can be even more beautiful than flower plants.
In any case, there are many types of kale in nature although not all of them are edible. The point, however, is that instead of obsessing over one type only, you can try different types of kale in your cooking, and take your tasting experiences to the next level.
