Onion
Description 🧅
Allium cepa is the common onion. Although it is usually thought of as a vegetable, A. cepa also has a long history of medicinal use. Onions are perennials that are cultivated for food worldwide. There are many varieties. Most onion bulbs are white, yellow, or red. The green stems and leaves are hollow and can reach 3 ft (1 m) in height. The plants bear small flowers that are usually white or purple. The fleshy bulb that grows below the ground is used medicinally as well as for food. Onions are members of the lily family.
Medicinal Uses 🩺
- Medieval Europe - used unsuccessfully to ward off plague
- North America, Native Americans - treat insect stings and relieve colds
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Homeopathy - tincture of onion treat a variety of conditions including cold, cough, diarrhea, facial paralysis, hay fever, hernia, laryngitis, pneumonia, trauma
Which is YOUR favorite type of onion? 😍
White onion
Approximately 5% of U.S. onion production is dedicated to white onions.
They are commonly used in white sauces, potato and pasta salads,
and in Mexican or Southwest cuisine. Due to the compact nature of their cell
structure, white onions do not store quite as long as other varieties.
Yellow Onion
All-purpose and most popular, approximately 87% of the U.S. onion crop is
comprised of yellow varieties. The most well-known sweet onions are yellow.
The best type of onion for caramelizing is a yellow storage variety.
Red onion
About 8% of the U.S. onion crop is red.
They have gained popularity in the past decade,
especially in foodservice on
salads and sandwiches
because of their color.
Color, Flavor, Usage Guide