What is German sauerkraut?

Answer 1

Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage that results in a sour taste, giving it the name sauerkraut (sour cabbage). The fermentation process, similar to pickling, occurs when the lactic acid bacteria, namely Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc and Pediococcus, on the cabbage leaves starts to ferment with salt. It's a three stage process that takes anywhere from two to five weeks or longer. The result is a health packed food very rich in vitamin C and other nutrients. It is also the leading reason many lives were saved at sea many years ago. In the 18th century scurvy was rampant and they needed to find a cure fast. It is said that in the mid 18th century the British crown set out to find a cure and sent many ship captains out with potential solutions. Captain James Cook was one of these men and happened to be carrying sauerkraut, and because of this he successfully protected his crew during many months of voyage.

The process of fermenting has much older roots in China, and it is believed that Ghangis Kahn originally brought it over to Eastern Europe. Workers building the Great Wall of China used to eat fermented cabbage regularly, but theirs was created by soaking cabbage in rice wine. In the 1700's Dutch settlers brought Sauerkraut to America and made it a staple in their cooking, which is a large reason why it is so popular in America today. Just like German Sauerkraut, many other countries today have their own variations of this popular side dish.