Welcome to the Varieties of Cornish Sprout.

We are still trying to build a comprehensive database of the different varieties.

MID NOVEMBER NEWS

A Cornish Tree Sprout has be captured and photographed - see below; note the green branch which was a prized whittling wood in the 1850's. More on this next month. Also, a new cross breeding programme to take the colour of chillies and create sprouts of the same hue is underway in a secret location; see photo below.

VARIETIES

The major varieties are catagorised by colour. As you can see from the photographs there are four major types, all of the genus Nedelek Uethek.

Nedelek Glas - the original green Christmas Horror! Cooked with Bicarbonate to keep the green and to make them stronger, both physically and in taste, this is the classic of all Cornish Christmas vegetables.

Portocaliu Varza - Sometimes mistaken for a pale Nedelek Rufh, this is a different variety with the classic Cornish Sprout flavour but with a slight colour wash that stays even after the long cooking required to make Cornish Sprouts inedible.

Purpurkrasas Asna - like its colour cousin, the Red Cabbage, this cornish sprout is very crisp and needs treating in a different way. Often pickled in malt vinegar it adds an interesting accompaniment to roast Cornish Ostrich, Cornish Duck or Cornish Rabbit.

Nedelek Rufh - Tinged with a light red this Cornish Sprout is similar to the Italian Sprouticus Rosso. It has a slightly bitter taste and requires a warm climate to grow. Only found in the sheltered areas of mid Cornwall and an acquired taste, not for the Sprout Virgin.

We hope to find more varieties over time. Please use our message board to share your knowledge.

We hope you enjoy your journey through the realms of the Mystical Cornish Sprout and remember the best way to take this journey is with a pinch of salt!