What is kale (collards)?

Kale (Brassica oleracea acephala) is a green leafy vegetable that belongs to the cruciferous or cabbage family. In fact, kale is probably the closest relative of wild cabbage in the entire cabbage family. Kale and collards are essentially the same vegetable, only kale has leaves with curly edges and is less tolerant to heat. Other greens of the cabbage family, such as mustard greens, turnip greens, kohlrabi, and watercress, offer similar benefits as kale and collards and can be used similarly.

There are several varieties of kale, known commonly as curly kale, ornamental kale, and dinosaur kale, all of which differ in taste, texture, and appearance. Curly kale has ruffled leaves and a fibrous stalk and is usually deep green in color. It has a lively, pungent flavor with bitter, peppery qualities. Ornamental kale is a more recently cultivated species and is often referred to as salad savoy. Its leaves may be green, white, or purple, and its stalks coalesce to form a loosely knit head. Ornamental kale has a more mellow flavor and tender texture. Dinosaur kale is the common name of the kale variety known as Lacinato. It features dark blue-green leaves that have an embossed texture. It has a slightly sweeter and more delicate taste than curly kale.

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