Scarlette has been developed by a small specialist breeder in Asia and is expected to attract the interest of salad packers and chefs due to its distinctive appearance and mild flavour.Chinese leaf is a popular vegetable throughout Europe and is very versatile, being used both as a steamed or stir fried vegetable or as a salad. Varieties currently available on the market are green leaved, with a pale green or yellow heart.
Scarlette is in a totally new class with dark red outer leaves and intense red or pink-coloured heart leaves, along with a pleasantly mild brassica flavour that contains a hint of pepperiness.
CN Seeds’ Craig Thomas said: “We have been following the development of this material for several years and have a couple of seasons of trial experience with Scarlette, which is very different from any other Chinese leaf in the market."
CN Seeds will be supplying the UK and Spanish markets, the cabbage seed is available for trials and large commercial growers.
“Customer reaction has been very positive, particularly when heads are cut for the first time and the startling red inner leaves are revealed. Elsewhere is the vegetable sector there is not much evolution going on.“This is a potential alternative product to red lettuce or radicchio in salad bags, with the advantage of a mild flavour and being less prone to oxidisation (browning). We think it will also appeal strongly to chefs who will be able to use the neon pink colour of the inner leaves to garnish meals.”
Scarlette is best suited to late Summer and Autumn production. This is a wholehead variety, ideal for shredding as a process product, but also with potential to sell as a solo item.
For more information:
Craig ThomasCN Seeds
Tel: +44 (0) 1353 699413
Email: craig.thomas@cnseeds.co.uk
www.cnseeds.co.uk