Seaside cardoon (Crambe Maritima)
Other names: Sea cabbage, sea kale
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
Sea kale is a perennial plant that is native to Europe. It adapts very well to the sandy and gravelly soils of the seashore, where it is able to withstand salty air and strong winds. It is traditionally planted in gardens for its globular inflorescence of small white flowers. The main attraction of this plant, however, is not its appearance, but rather its edible parts, which have a distinct taste of kale.
The main use of sea cardoon is in gastronomy, where its leaves and roots are mainly used. The leaves are harvested in spring when they are young and tender and are excellent not only in salads but also in various types of vegetable dishes such as soups and casseroles. Sea cardamom can also be used to flavour meat. The roots can be eaten raw or cooked and are delicious in combination with other vegetables or as a side dish with main courses. In addition to gastronomy, sea buckthorn is often used in the cosmetics industry, where it is used to make various creams and skin balms. It is also used as cattle feed.