Green in Snow, Golden Gate strain
My neighbor WeiWei gifted me with seed for this heirloom variety, and it is truly special. Xue Li Hong, often translated "Green in Snow" is an extremely hardy member of the mustard family, as hardy as kale. The leaves are flat with a bit of frill at the edge, a fresh apple-green color, and have a rich flavor. I have grown it as a delicious fresh vegetable for years. But WeiWei taught me another use.
In her home, the greens are also fermented. They're wilted, salted, rubbed (like salt-massaged kale) and packed into jars for long keeping. Then both the greens themselves and their liquid are used for adding flavor, nutrition, and probiotics to winter meals. I've come to love the juice as a way to boost savory unami flavor in all kinds of dishes, and even drinks.
I'm particularly excited about this strain of Green-in-Snow because now it's a California heirloom as well. Seed brought from China has been grown in the backyards of San Francisco for a long time now. To me, this is what heirlooms are all about--adapting seeds to your home conditions, and passing them on. 100 seeds