What is the difference between Iceberg lettuce and Beijing cabbage

The difference between Iceberg lettuce and Chinese cabbage is that these are two different cultures that have a very distant biological relationship. There is also a difference in appearance – if Beijing cabbage is elongated, then Iceberg lettuce, on the contrary, is rounded. As for the benefits, the Beijing culture wins in terms of the composition and content of vitamins and minerals. These and other comparison options are described in detail in the article.

Botanical description

Even though both plants are similar in appearance and taste, there is a big difference between them. First of all, it must be said that biologically these are different plants. Beijing cabbage (Beijing) belongs to the Cabbage family, a subspecies of Turnip. Those. this is a real cabbage, which is a relative of white cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and all the rest.

As for Iceberg lettuce, it is a plant from the Astrov family (genus Lettuce). In appearance, it is a head of cabbage, so the culture really resembles cabbage. Although in fact the difference is more than obvious.

iceberg lettuce

This is an unusual representative of vegetables. Formally refers to lettuce heads, but belongs to a different family. Foliage is a pleasant light green color. In the upper part of the head of cabbage, it is more saturated, and in the lower part, on the contrary, it is light.

The variety was bred in the USA. Moreover, it was originally called a crispy salad, since the foliage is juicy and has a rather pleasant texture. Subsequently, it was called the Iceberg due to the fact that the foliage had to be stored in ice.

Iceberg lettuce is rounded

Chinese cabbage

This crop is a biennial plant, although in the temperate climate zone of Our Country it is grown only as an annual. The foliage is tender and juicy, forms a rosette or loose forks. The color is lighter, with a delicate shade of green. The bottom is pure white.

The forks taste crispy and tender, very thin, like “pancakes”. At the same time, they are significantly compacted at the base. They do not form stalk, instead they form thick petioles, which are also edible and no less juicy than foliage.

Head of Peking cabbage is longitudinal, loose structure

Difference between chinese cabbage and iceberg lettuce

There is a difference between these plants, although there are common features. They are similar in appearance, form a rather dense head of cabbage with light green leaves. When fresh, the leaf plates are crispy, quite juicy, with a delicate taste. They contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and other useful components. But there is a difference – it is connected both with the appearance, and with the composition and use in cooking. The main parameters are described below.

Appearance

If you look closely, you can see the difference in appearance. Iceberg lettuce produces a rounded cabbage-like head. However, its leaves are much thinner, moreover, they are located loosely. Both young and old lettuce do not have dense heads of cabbage.

Beijing also has a loose structure. However, the shape of the leaves is more elongated, and the heads are more like a cylinder. In this regard, the difference between both plants is quite obvious.

Composition and calorie content

There is no significant difference in composition. The composition of both products includes almost the same components:

• vitamin A;
• WITH;
• TO;
• group B (B1, B2, B5, B6, B9);
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• copper;
• calcium;
• selenium;
• zinc;
• phosphorus;
• iron.

The difference is related only to the content of substances. Chinese cabbage contains more vitamin compounds and minerals – in this sense, Iceberg lettuce is not so healthy. As for calorie content and nutritional value, there is also a difference here – the corresponding parameters are presented in the table.

As can be seen from the table, both products have similar calorie content and nutritional value. Moreover, along with the vitamin-mineral complex, they also contain dietary fiber – fiber. It has a beneficial effect on the intestines – it cleanses it of toxins, toxic substances, and lowers cholesterol. Along with this, fiber creates a long-lasting feeling of satiety. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for weight loss, and it can be both fresh and cooked (there is no difference).

Pekinka is healthier than lettuce varieties

Application

In culinary terms, both products are very similar, there is not much difference between them. The taste of Iceberg lettuce and Chinese cabbage is pleasant, neutral, the leaves are tender and juicy. This makes them much more suitable for salads.

They are also used for lining plates on which meat, fish, side dishes and other main dishes are served. Suitable for vegetable cuts, all kinds of cold appetizers (both for serving and as an ingredient in a dish).

Which is Healthier: Iceberg Lettuce or Beijing Cabbage

The answer to this question is quite simple – for this you can pay attention to the chemical composition. Despite the fact that both plants contain the same components, there is a difference in the quantitative ratio. Beijing culture is more useful, because it has more vitamins and minerals – this is clearly seen from the table (the amounts of each element in 100 g of leaves are presented as a percentage of the daily share).

In general, cabbage is much healthier than lettuce. It has 10 times more vitamin C, three times more vitamin B9, twice as much vitamin B2. However, the taste of the leaves is about the same.

At the same time, it is not worth assigning a clear victory to the Beijing plant in terms of utility. The difference is that Iceberg lettuce, in contrast, is included in the ranking of the most useful foods in the CDC category (a study based on the US Center for Disease Prevention).

In addition, quite a few salad varieties have been bred, for example, Rimsky, Salanova and a number of others. They differ in taste, shape and color of foliage. The plant can be used in a variety of dishes. But it is worth considering that it contains up to 97% of water (of the total mass). And the Beijing culture is about 94%. At first glance, the difference is not significant. Although, in fact, the cabbage culture is less watery, and the concentration of nutrients in it is noticeably higher due to this, which is reflected in the table.

What to choose

You can choose either one or the other product. In terms of benefits, Beijing cabbage is better, here the difference is obvious. Plus, it’s often more affordable. The leaves are about the same, they have an oblong, elongated shape, they are great for salads.

Lettuce leaves are convenient to use for serving

But it is easier to line dishes with rounded leaves – Iceberg is indispensable in this regard. Therefore, it can be purchased just for serving the dish. And if there is no salad, you can lay out a few Peking leaves in the form of a flower, cutting off unnecessary edges.

Conclusion

The difference between Iceberg lettuce and Beijing cabbage is quite obvious and catches the eye even at the first examination. At the same time, they coincide in taste – the foliage is juicy and quite pleasant. It is used both as a part of vegetable snacks and for serving meat and fish dishes.