The History of Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is a cruciferous vegetable that belongs to the cabbage family. The vegetable dates back to the 16th century in Europe. Its arrival in Italy was mentioned in writing by botanist Mattioli in 1554. From there, it spread throughout the Mediterranean and into Northern Europe, Russia, and parts of Asia. In 1734, Ireland began growing kohlrabi on a large scale, while England began growing a significant amount of the cop slightly later, in 1837. At some point, the vegetable arrived in the United States, likely brought over by immigrants, and it was formally mentioned in the U.S. for the first time in 1806, although it didn’t become more widespread until the 1880s. The vegetable is now available in a variety of colors, and when picked in summer, it has a slight spiciness, but fall harvests are considered more flavorful. Today, China and India are the top global producers of kohlrabi, and the vegetable is most popular in Germany, Eastern Europe, and India, although it is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. as more grocery stores and farmer’s markets begin to offer it.