Beetroot:
Chioggia
Grown on my allotment in 2004
Small globe roots. Poor establishment and growth compared to other
cultivars grown.
The distinctive red and white bands are lost when cooked, to become
white or pale pink. In taste tests, it performed relatively poorly. Flavour is
sweet and bland.
Chioggia or Barabietola di Chioggia is a globe-shaped heirloom Italian
variety, with a slightly flattened shape. It was described by the 1840s and
originated from market gardens around Venice. It is also sold under a range of
other names, including or Tonda di Chioggia, Chioggia Pink or dolce di
Chioggia. It has a rosy or orange-pink outer skin, with a distinctive dartboard
pattern when cut transversely. For this reason it is sometimes known as Bull's
Eye Beet or Candy Stripe Beet. Bands of white flesh alternate with bands of pink
or rosy red. The pattern tends to fade toward a soft pink when cooked. It has
attractive dark-green leaves with ruby-red stems that have a mild flavour when
raw or cooked. Chioggia is grown today mainly for its unusual colouring, but it
has a mild and sweet flavour. The flavour is not to everyone's taste. Some say
it is delicious, others insipid. They are best eaten when young. Modern lines
are resistant to bolting.
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