Jogobella's fruits

Did you know that…?
Rhubarb
In 16th-Century France rhubarb was more valuable than cinnamon and in 17th-Century England more expensive than opium. It had numerous beneficial properties and for this reason was one of the most-commonly used plants in folk medicine.

Is this a fruit or a vegetable? Well, it's added to pies, jams and compotes - a fruit, maybe? On the other hand, it's sour and resembles a veggie - a vegetable, then? It's not that simple...

Botanically speaking, the rhubarb is a vegetable. To describe its taste as "sour" would be to oversimplify things. In fact, the redder the stem, the sweeter it is. That's why the plant makes a great dessert ingredient. This property was acknowledged by the US Supreme Court which decided, contrary to the popular belief held in other countries, that the rhubarb is a fruit.

"Rhubarb" literally means "from the Volga". The plant did not, however, originate in Russia, but travelled through the latter from China to Europe, which it made its home. It is widely used to improve taste. It is used in preserves, and added to meat and fish, giving it a more crisp flavour.

The rhubarb is an exceptional plant. The only edible part of the plant is the stalk. It might not be a unique vegetable, but it is certainly an extraordinary fruit!

Habitat