Of KINGS AND CABBAGES

 Of KINGS AND CABBAGES

கோஸ் / முட்டை கோஸ்

In response to the previous blog post of mine on “Curry leaf” my revered friend

Dr. KANNAN, [Professor of Sociology [Retired] has opined thus:

          “Excellent article on curry leaves. Reference to the biochemical composition has made it all the more informative and interesting. Congrats”.

My response

Thank you Professor.

Only respondents among the readers of the kind that you are, keep my spirit of writing alive [if not vibrant] .Of course, vibrant writing is not given to all and how can I be any exception?  Still, readership is what any writer craves for and viewership is vividly no solace in place of readership.

OF KINGS and CABBAGES

CABBAGE   [ கோஸ் / முட்டை கோஸ் ]

Kings and Cabbages is a well-known coinage in English and is said to be a nonsensical, idiom that suggests ‘touching upon a range of items –trivial as cabbage and serious as politics and the seat of authority –The king.

Neither erudition nor skill of narration can permit my indulgence in such serious domains as Kings/ Kingdom. Perhaps a narration on Cabbage would not invite the wrath of the King [Never of course  from Cabbage] nor of some of our blog viewers who may occasionally read a stuff, if they have nothing better to think of .

CABBAGE –another leafy vegetable    [0.4 -4.0 Kg].  The biggest of cabbages ever harvested has been reported to have weighed 62 Kg.

Cabbage is a well-known vegetable of European origin but has penetrated deep into India that it has established its credentials for a widely consumed vegetable. Unlike most vegetables that are fruits, only ‘Greens’ and cabbage are leaf vegetables. [Cauliflower and Banana are flower vegetables. However, if Cabbage is a delicacy at all is a moot point

Cabbage is cultivated in hill slopes where night temperature is significantly low. Slopes are ideal for these cultivars, because water drains off easily and moist slopes support these crops. Cabbage grown in foot hills [higher temperature] tends to form loosely packed heads containing leaves in less compact arrangement and leaves are more textured with prominent veins 

Most Cabbages are cultivars of Brassica oleracea [ Botanic name] and have dense cluster of tightly packed leaves set to a head-like cluster. After some 4 or 5 months since sowing, plants grow to a height of 1.5 -2.0 ft. Well grown heads are harvested for marketing. However, each head with larger leaves subtending the head with at the end of the stem is   harvested with the subtending leaves, so as to protect the un-open leaves in the bud.

Vitamins C and K are in high doses at around 40 and 60 % respectively along with Calcium as a fairly rich component. Other key components are water =90%,Carbohydrates 5.8g Sugar 3.0g , Fibre 2.4g,Fat 0.1 g, Protein 1.2 g per 100 g

Cabbage is believed to cure ulcers in the digestive tract and also pneumonia and appendicitis and is helpful as a home-remedy for such disorders.  The leaves are sheared to pieces and boiled in water for about 7 minutes. After allowing the extract to cool, the boiled shreds are strained out and the liquid consumed on empty stomach in early mornings. It helps to alleviate digestive disorder/acidity and associated inconveniences.