Everything about Sauerkraut totally explained
Sauerkraut (: ) is finely shredded
cabbage that has been
fermented by various
lactic acid bacteria, including
Leuconostoc,
Lactobacillus, and
Pediococcus.
It has good keeping qualities and a distinctive
sour flavour, both of which results from the
lactic acid that forms when the bacteria ferment the sugars in the cabbage.
The word comes directly from the
German language, which literally translates to
sour cabbage.
In
1776, Captain
James Cook was awarded the
Copley Medal for demonstrating that sauerkraut could be used to allay
scurvy in British crews on long sea voyages. Currently, there's no evidence of its effect on human cases.
Sauerkraut is also a source of
biogenic amines such as
tyramine, which may cause adverse reactions to sensitive people. It also provides various cancer fighting compounds including
ITC and
sulphoraphane.
Health risks
It is well known that pickled food is usually rich in
nitrites and
amines, if not properly manufactured. The former can cause stomach cancer, the latter
migraines. Although no direct report has been published stating that sauerkraut is associated with
nasopharyngeal carcinoma and
esophageal carcinoma, prudent measures should be taken to avoid consuming the product with high levels of
nitrosamines, which are normally found in salted preserved foods.
Similar foods
There are many other vegetables that are preserved by a similar process.
There is a dessert known as
sauerkraut candy which is a
penuche made with
coconut flakes. While this candy resembles sauerkraut visually, it doesn't necessarily contain sauerkraut as an ingredient.
Cultural references
The American soldiers in World War II referred to German soldiers as "Krauts", in reference to the sauerkraut which, as German soldiers were known to consume at that time by the allied forces, was typically bitter and sour. The word is still used as an ethnic slur against people of German descent.
During World War I, due to concerns the American public would reject a product with a German name, American sauerkraut makers relabeled their product as "Liberty cabbage" for the duration of the war.
In the USA, there's an annual sauerkraut festival held in Phelps, New York
and also in Waynesville, Ohio
The area of Europe where sauerkraut is probably the most typical regional dish is around Leinfelden-Echterdingen. The town, where the Stuttgart Airport is located, holds an annual "Krautfest" around the middle of October. The event has taken place since 1978 and attracts as many as 40,000 visitors.Further Information
Get more info on 'Sauerkraut'.
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