BEHR Gemüsegarten: Products

Radicchio Treviso

Radicchio Treviso is a member of the Asteraceae family. Together with endive and sugarloaf chicory, radicchio is one of the group of leaf chicories.

Radicchio is a typical Italian salad leaf, as the different varieties used to be grown mainly in Italy. The Italian names give an indication of the region in which the main cultivation area of the respective variety is located. In Italy, radicchio is cultivated in many different forms – and it is also available in green, for example, as well as red. We cultivate two varieties of red radicchio, the well-known round radicchio also called “radicchio di Chioggia” and the elongated radicchio Treviso, known in Italian as “radicchio di Treviso".

Radicchio Treviso has deep red leaves with white leaf veins, which together form a delightful contrast. It has an elongated head shape with loosely arranged leaves that are slightly softer and milder than the round radicchio. In terms of flavour, radiccho Treviso – like all chicories – can be classified from slightly tart to slightly bitter.

Cultivation and harvesting

We grow radicchio Treviso in our fields in Ohlendorf (Lower Saxony). With its temperate climate and light, deep soils, northern Germany offers the ideal conditions for growing radicchio Treviso. It is very sensitive to extreme weather conditions, which may lead the plants to bloom faster or start to turn black at the edges of the leaves.

Preparation and freshness tips

Radicchio Treviso is extremely versatile. It can be used as a splash of colour and flavour in all kinds of salads. But it is also ideal for serving hot, for example as an accompaniment to fish, meat or pasta – simply heat briefly with a little garlic and olive oil in a pan and season to taste with salt, pepper and a little sugar – that's it! Tip: It also looks great if you don’t chop the radicchio Treviso into small pieces, but fry it quartered in the pan.

If you prefer a slightly milder flavour, you can place the radicchio Treviso leaves briefly in lukewarm water. This removes the bitter substances from the leaf veins, as this is where they are the strongest.

When buying radicchio Treviso, you should make sure that the leaves look nice and fresh. It can be stored for a few days in its packaging or wrapped in a damp cloth in the vegetable compartment of the fridge. But as with all salads and vegetables, it tastes best when it's fresh and prepared immediately!