When I first arrived in France and could not find kale, I began to do a lot of research about whether maybe there was a secret, special spot where someone was selling the vegetable and along the way have learned a lot about kale that I never knew before.
Here is one of the first things I learned and would like to set everyone straight: chou frisé is not kale. Kale is not chou frisé. The photo below is chou frisé and that vegetable is a savoy cabbage.
A lot of people who come to France and try to find kale have this misconception, which is understandable since the Google translation of kale provides chou frisé.
It’s exactly what happened to me when I first arrived. After a quick translation, I happily went off to the market and asked for chou frisé, and was given savoy cabbage instead. Cue my sad face.
I gave the savoy cabbage a go and after the green outer layer, which left much to be desired, the vegetable just becomes another cabbage.
The Latin name for kale is Brassica oleracea acephala. Brassica means cabbage so yes, chou is accurate. It is the words following that leave those looking for kale unsatisfied at the market.
So far, I’ve been able to discover that the closest translation for kale is chou vert demi-nain. And it’s what the French feed to farm animals (specifically pigs) or if someone has a garden, perhaps they use chou vert demi-nain as an ornamental plant.
I’ve seen in a few gardens around Paris and have been tempted to snip off a few leaves for my dinner that night!
For those that have done their own research on this, what have you found?
dianainfrance says
I myself have been looking for kale in france for the past 6 years, and did come across it at a farmer’s market in Lyon. The farmer in question grew it herself, and referred to it as ‘chou réflex’ (not sure of the spelling). But she didn’t have every time, and she only a very small quantity. I was able to find it online with that name.
I also came across several varieties of kale at the botanical garden in Nantes, but I don’t remember what they were called – just that none of them were ‘chou réflex.’ Otherwise, like you, I’ve also seen kale grown ornamentally and have been so tempted to swipe some for my dinner! But now that I live in the countryside my new project is to figure out where to get some seeds to grow some…
kristen @ thekaleproject says
Hi Diana, Nice to meet you and thank you for your comments! I love the name chou réflex! It’s good to know that at least you saw a farmer once that had it. I feel like I change personality at the markets and my eyes start to dart around trying to spot any leaves that are someone like kale! I’m going to start doing some research for chou réflex now as that’s a new word to me – but Im sure will be very helpful!
dianainfrance says
Ok here’s an update to my previous comment, since I’ve been doing some research to find kale seeds to plant.
Chou reflex or chou frisé reflex, the variety I came across at a farmer’s market in Lyon, is indeed indeed pretty easy to find online, here’s one example:
http://www.lesgrainesdefrance.com/vente-graines-de-jardin-legumes/Chou-frise/index.html
There are also lots of other varieties online that seem like they’re kale, they tend to be listed in the “chou non-pomme” category: Chou frisé vert grand du nord, Chou frisé westlandse winter, palmier noir de toscane/Chou Cavalier Laciniate Nero di Toscana (looks like dinosaur kale), rebbor F1, cavalier vert, etc. (I can give you some links if you’re interested)
and of course the Chou frisé Vert Demi nain that you mentioned, which looks like perfectly edible kale to me!
The website that actually had the largest variety of organic kale is Kokopelli (well-known in France for fighting against gmos and promoting biodiversity):
Chou Frisé “Cavalier Rouge”
Chou Frisé “Halbhoher”
Chou Frisé “Lacinato (Palmier”black Tuscan kale, dinosaur cabbage)
Chou Frisé “Lacinato Rainbow” (no picture but variety from the US)
Chou Frisé Sibérien “Purple Napini” (No picture but from the US)
Chou Frisé Sibérien “Red Ursa”
Chou Frisé Sibérien “White Russian”
Chou Frisé Sibérien “Wild Garden Kales Mix”
Chou Frisé Sibérien “Wild Red”
Chou Frisé Sibérien “Winter Red”
They don’t all have pictures but given the descriptions I’m pretty sure they’re all different varieties of kale.
http://kokopelli-semences.fr/boutique/chou?page=2
So it seems like kale is mostly referred to as chou frisé on seed sites, but a particular variety of chou frisé that is not that well-known in France.
Not yet sure which one I’ll plant, maybe I’ll try several, but I just found out that my local jardiland sells chou reflex plants so I’ll probably start there!
Hope this helps!
kristen @ thekaleproject says
Diana! This information is amazing!!! I will admit that at times perhaps my lack of French has kept me from thoroughly searching through the French seed sites.. but these two are fantastic. The different varieties offered are such a positive reinforcement for all of this. Thank you thank you! I can’t wait to hear what you’ve planted and how it goes. We just planted some seeds yesterday in a pot on our small/non-existant terrace, but I’m not sure how well it will grow. Please keep us posted!
Susannah says
I would love to find Kale in Paris.
I’ve just found this website http://www.lasocietedesplantes.com/?p=productMore&iProduct=163 seems the correct name here in france is chou palmier de Toscane or cavolo nero
kristen @ thekaleproject says
Hi Susannah, Nice to hear from you and thank you for your support of The Kale Project! One of the reasons I started this initiative was to hear from people like you (and the others who have commented) with the hopes that you would share your own knowledge and sites with information – so thank you for sharing. That would be the correct name for Tuscan kale, which is the popular variety commonly grown in Italy (and what I bought in Italy about a month ago). keep your fingers crossed that we’ll have kale soon!