Napa Cabbage
Estimated Inventory, 30 lbs : 17.45
This item was last sold on : 11/27/24
Description/Taste
Napa cabbage is a densely packed, large and elongated head, averaging 25-50 centimeters in length and 15-20 centimeters in width, with an oval to oblong shape. The bright white stems are thick, lightly grooved, and smooth, tightly clustered at the base forming basal rosettes. Attached to the fibrous stems are crinkled, delicate, and curved leaves that range in color from pale green to yellow and are covered in white veins that extend across the surface. Napa cabbage is crisp and aqueous with a subtly sweet, mild flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Napa cabbage is available year-round.
Current Facts
Napa cabbage, botanically classified as Brassica rapa var. pekinensis, is a variety of Chinese cabbage that belongs to the Brassicaceae family. Native to China, Napa cabbage is most popularly used in Asian cuisine and is also known by many different names, including Da bai cai in Mandarin, Sui choy in Cantonese, Hakusai in Japanese, Pechay Baguio in Filipino, and Wombok in English. There are many varieties of Napa cabbage, including heritage and hybrid cultivars, and the cabbage’s presence has expanded globally, used in cooking around the world. Napa cabbage is also a popular yin, or cold food in traditional Chinese medicine, which practices the belief of eating a balanced diet of “hot and cold” foods to create harmony within the body.
Nutritional Value
Napa cabbage is an excellent source of calcium, vitamins C and K, and antioxidants, which can help boost immunity within the body and help repair cell damage. It also contains magnesium, vitamin B, fiber, and folic acid.
Applications
Napa cabbage is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising, stewing, grilling, stir-frying, and boiling. Traditionally used in Asian cuisine, Napa cabbage can be shredded into slaws or green salads, or it can be stuffed into dumplings, fresh spring rolls, and steamed buns. The leaves can also be simmered in hot pot or other soups, cooked into curries, or lightly stir-fried with other vegetables and mixed into noodle and rice dishes. In addition to cooked preparations, Napa cabbage is popularly fermented and used to make kimchi. Outside of Asian cuisine, Napa cabbage is also being used in sandwiches, as a lettuce wrap, in salads, or as a creamed side dish. Napa cabbage pairs well with potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, celery, parsnips, meats such as white fish, pork, poultry, and duck, grapefruit, oranges, and pistachios. The leaves will keep 1-2 weeks when wrapped in plastic and stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In Beijing, China, Napa cabbage was once one of the most important sources of nutrients during long winter seasons. The cabbages would be transported from neighboring farms and placed into large piles in the market where locals would gather and purchase a supply for the winter. In 1989, more cabbage was produced than there was demand. In an effort to sell the excess cabbages, the Chinese government began marketing the purchase of Napa cabbage as an act of patriotism and strongly encouraged the public to store as much as eighty pounds of cabbage in their houses for the winter. With the influx of cabbage and with government pressure to purchase, Napa cabbage was commonly incorporated into dumplings, mixed with bean curd, simmered into soups, served over rice, or coated in a sour sauce. As China's economy began to shift with more produce options became available in stores and markets, many households in northern China, especially in Beijing, began to turn to other vegetables as a source of nutrients and have grown tired of the overused variety.
Geography/History
Napa cabbage is native to China and was first documented in the Yangtze River Delta during the 14th century. As cabbage cultivation increased, the variety was introduced to neighboring countries such as Korea and Japan in the 1850s and later to the Americas in the late 1880s via Chinese immigrants. Today Napa cabbage is widely found through farmers markets, specialty grocers, and well-stocked supermarkets in Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North, Central, and South America.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Sets Kitchen and Bar | San Marcos CA | 970-390-2148 |
| Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
| Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| Cantina Mayahuel | San Diego CA | 619-283-6292 |
| Viejas Casino TMDR | Alpine CA | 619-659-1774 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery | Del Mar CA | 858-792-2225 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Crown Point Catering | San Diego CA | 619-223-1211 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| The Bowl | San Diego CA | 619-813-5865 |
| Rubicon Deli India Street | San Diego CA | 619-200-4201 |
| Shimbashi Izakaya | Del Mar CA | 858-523-0479 |
| Green Dragon Tavern & Museum | Carlsbad CA | 760-797-5579 |
| Roppongi | La Jolla CA |
| Blue Ocean | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-4959 |
| The Crack Shack-San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-795-3299 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
| Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
| Farm Fresh Meals | Vista CA | 760-707-2383 |
| Convention Center Shell | San Diego CA | 619-954-3063 |
| Luce | San Diego CA | 619-275-2094 |
| Nutmeg Bakery & Cafe 1 | San Diego CA | 858-405-2401 |
| Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
| Shorehouse Kitchen | La Jolla CA | 858-459-3300 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Nectarine Grove | Encinitas CA | 760-944-4525 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Brigantine Imperial Beach | Imperial Beach CA | 619-591-1350 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
| Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
| Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Belmont Park Cannonball | San Diego CA | 858-228-9283 |
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| Fish Guts | San Diego CA | 619-888-0081 |
| Extraordinary Desserts Union St. | San Diego CA | 619-294-7001 |
| Oscars Brewing Company | Temecula CA | 619-695-2422 |
| Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Bayside Landing | San Diego CA | 858-270-9200 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-735-3093 |
| Rubicon Deli-UTC | San Diego CA | 858-877-9911 |
| The Local-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 858-263-7475 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| The Go Go Truck | San Diego CA | 401-837-1740 |
| The Joint | San Diego CA | 619-222-8272 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| Royal Polaris Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (7 Mile) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 619-816-8319 |
| WineSellar & Brasserie | San Diego CA | 858-450-9557 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn | San Diego CA | 877-517-9340 |
| Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
| Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst. | San Diego CA | 508-289-2667 |
| Sago | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines | La Jolla CA | 858-450-4581 |
| Tahona (Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
| The Plot Restaurant (Costa Mesa) | Costa Mesa CA | 714-852-3181 |
| Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
| Bar Same Same (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
| Hane | San Diego CA | 619-339-6438 |
| College Cuisine-Pi Beta Phi | San Diego CA | 310-634-2371 |
| Shoreside Support Boat | San Diego CA | 704-277-7929 |
| Sheldons Service Station | La Mesa CA | 619-741-8577 |
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Mission Ave Bar and Grill | Oceanside CA | 760-717-5899 |
| Hilton Garden Inn | San Diego CA | 858-720-9500 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
| Extraordinary Desserts | San Diego CA | 619-294-2132 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Napa Cabbage. One
is easiest, three is harder.
