Pointed cabbage (''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''capitata'' f. ''acuta''), also known as cone, sweetheart, hispi or sugarloaf cabbage is a form of

cabbage Cabbage, comprising several cultivars of ''Brassica oleracea'', is a leafy green, red (purple), or white (pale green) biennial plant grown as an annual vegetable crop for its dense-leaved heads. It is descended from the wild cabbage ( ''B.&nb ...

('' Brassica oleracea'') with a tapering shape and large delicate leaves varying in colour from yellowish to blue-green. It tastes less pronounced and more delicate than common white cabbage (''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''capitata'' f. ''alba''). It is the earliest cabbage, grown for sale in the UK from May to November, but it is grown in Spain from November to April. In Northern Bohemia, red pointed cabbage is used to make ''Kysané zelí'', fermenting being started just by adding salt, and producing red sauerkraut. Production of pointed cabbage is on the decrease because white cabbage produces higher yields and is easier to process due to its round shape. Pointed cabbage can be used like Savoy cabbage or white cabbage, but needs less cooking because of its more delicate leaves. It can also be eaten raw and is suitable for salads.

Filderkraut

Filderkraut is a variety of pointed cabbage grown in the Filder, a fertile plain with

loess Loess (, ; from german: Löss ) is a clastic, predominantly silt-sized sediment that is formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust. Ten percent of Earth's land area is covered by loess or similar deposits. Loess is a periglacial or aeolian ...

soils south of

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

. It has large, compact heads consisting of fine leaves and is mainly used for making sauerkraut. Since 24 Oktober 2012 Filderkraut / Filderspitzkraut has been registered in the EU as a

protected designation of origin The protected designation of origin (PDO) is a type of geographical indication of the European Union and the United Kingdom aimed at preserving the designations of origin of food-related products. The designation was created in 1992 and its main ...

. EU Regulation 2012/975 () Many companies in the Filder cultivate their own varieties and produce their own seeds. In order to develop seeds the tip of the head must be cut off and a cross-shaped incision made, in order for the flowers to develop. Sauerkraut made from pointed cabbage is only produced for sale by a few companies. Filderkraut plays a large role in local culture and cuisine and is served at the

Cannstatter Volksfest The Cannstatter Volksfest is an annual three-week Volksfest (beer festival and travelling funfair) in Stuttgart, Germany. It is sometimes also referred to by foreign visitors as the Stuttgart Beer Festival, although it is actually more of an autu ...

. The Filder pointed cabbage ''Brassica oleracea'' var. ''capitata'' fo. ''alba'' subfo. ''conica'' has been included in their Ark of Taste by the Slow Food movement.

External links

Filderkraut marketing organisation
(in German)

References

{{reflist Food plant cultivars Leaf vegetables Slow Food