Napa Cabbage
Estimated Inventory, 30 lbs : 42.93
This item was last sold on : 05/07/25
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.
| Sago | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| A & M catering | San Diego CA | 206-802-8320 |
| Brockton Villa Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-454-7393 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Marine Group Global Services LLC | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| The Go Go Truck | San Diego CA | 401-837-1740 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Farm Fresh Meals | Vista CA | 760-707-2383 |
| Oscars Brewing Company | Temecula CA | 619-695-2422 |
| Plant Based Meals | San Diego CA | 858-255-0590 |
| The Crack Shack-Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 877-230-1871 |
| Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
| Milton's Delicatessen, Grill & Bakery | Del Mar CA | 858-792-2225 |
| Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
| La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| South O Brewing Catering | Oceanside CA | 925-381-5392 |
| Miho | San Diego CA | 619-365-5655 |
| The Local-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 858-263-7475 |
| Top of the Market -2025 | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Green Dragon Tavern & Museum | Carlsbad CA | 760-797-5579 |
| Bayside Landing | San Diego CA | 858-270-9200 |
| Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
| Counterpoint | San Diego CA | 619-564-6722 |
| Hilton Garden Inn | San Diego CA | 858-720-9500 |
| Nectarine Grove | Encinitas CA | 760-944-4525 |
| Manna | Encinitas CA | 510-366-3057 |
| Sets Kitchen and Bar | San Marcos CA | 970-390-2148 |
| Shimbashi Izakaya | Del Mar CA | 858-523-0479 |
| Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 |
| The Crack Shack PB | San Diego CA | 619-450-7978 |
| Rubicon Deli-UTC | San Diego CA | 858-877-9911 |
| Deeply Nourished | La Jolla CA | 808-489-7366 |
| Roppongi IB | Imperial Beach CA | 858-456-8018 |
| The Crack Shack-San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-795-3299 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 619-816-8319 |
| Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
| Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
| The Crack Shack Costa Mesa | Costa Mesa CA | 951-808-7790 |
| Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
| Mesa College | San Diego CA | 619-388-2240 |
| Fish Guts | San Diego CA | 619-888-0081 |
| The Plot | Oceanside CA | 422-266-8200 |
| Sugar and Scribe | La Jolla CA | 858-274-1733 |
| Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
| Communion (Paradis) | San Diego CA | 619-606-5568 |
| Extraordinary Desserts Union St. | San Diego CA | 619-294-7001 |
| Harley Gray Kitchen and Bar | San Diego CA | 619-840-7000 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| The Bowl | San Diego CA | 619-813-5865 |
| Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Eddie V's Prime Seafood - EV# 8514 | San Diego CA | 619-615-0281 |
| Hane | San Diego CA | 619-339-6438 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (Distribution Center) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| Brigantine Imperial Beach | Imperial Beach CA | 619-591-1350 |
| Pacific Regent La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-597-8008 |
| Top of the Market | San Diego CA | 619-234-4867 |
| Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
| Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
| Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| Half Door Brewing | San Diego CA | 619-655-7459 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Sheldons Service Station | La Mesa CA | 619-741-8577 |
| Brigantine Corp | San Diego CA | 858 926 9644 |
| Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| Nutmeg Bakery & Cafe 1 | San Diego CA | 858-405-2401 |
| Pizza Kaiju | San Diego CA | 619-240-2716 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| Extraordinary Desserts | San Diego CA | 619-294-2132 |
| Kingfisher | San Diego CA | 619-861-8074 |
| Trust Restaurant | San Diego CA | 609-780-7572 |
| La Valle Coastal Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
| Belmont Park Cannonball | San Diego CA | 858-228-9283 |
| Luce | San Diego CA | 619-275-2094 |
| Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
| The Bower | Coronado CA | 619-606-8424 |
| Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
| Food by Chef Ty | Vista CA | 424-278-8626 |
| College Cuisine - Gamma Phi Beta | San Diego CA | 310-634-2371 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Bar Same Same (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-470-9143 |
| Bernardo Heights Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-487-4022 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| MRKT Space - La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-500-7484 |
| Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines | La Jolla CA | 858-450-4581 |
| Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
| Blue Ocean | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-4959 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Napa Cabbage. One
is easiest, three is harder.
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