Gift your loved one a 'Yellow Rose Cabbage' for Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, consider gifting your significant other a "Yellow Rose Cabbage", a visually pleasant vegetable that doubles as a nutritious meal.

Developed by Hou Xilin and his team at Nanjing Agricultural University over a span of nearly 20 years, the cabbage stands out with its green leaves surrounding a yellow heart, reminiscent of a rose.

This new cabbage variety is packed over three times the vitamin C content of regular cabbage and a calcium level six times higher than that of milk, according to Professor Hou.

Hou explained that the yellow hue of the cabbage's heart comes from flavonoids, chemicals that are responsible for the vivid colors of fruits and vegetables. Notably cold-resistant, the cabbage's leaves turn increasingly yellow and its flavonoid content rises as temperatures drop between 2 to -6 C.

Flavonoids are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and offer anti-aging benefits with regular consumption, Hou said.

The professor recommends enjoying the cabbage in salads or lightly cooked to preserve its nutritional value.

Cabbages are cultivated across more than 60 vegetable bases in Jiangsu province. With a market price ranging from 6 to 9 yuan ($0.82 to $1.2) per head, this unique cabbage variety is gaining popularity for its distinctive appearance and impressive nutritional profile.