Rhubarb back in fashion

The vegetable, originally brought to Europe by Marco Polo and used in folk medicine to treat intestinal problems, is a rich source of dietary fibre, vitamin C, calcium and potassium. The return to fashion has been led by British celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein and Anthony Worrell Thompson, the latter has included the vegetable in his recent books on the Glycaemic Index (GI) diet: rhubarb is low in carbohydrates. Rhubarb is also being championed as a way of reducing cholesterol levels and slimming, with 100 grams providing only seven calories. With rising public awareness has come rising sales. Morrisons, for example, are reported to have seen sales double in one month, making it the number one vegetable in terms of sales. The figure is matched by the growers, most of which are located in the co-called 'Rhubarb Triangle' in Yorkshire, where the annual Rhubarb festival recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. Rhubarb growers expect sales to top 1000 tonnes for 2006.

Rhubarb back in fashion

Rhubarb, the favourite of granddads and school dinners across the country, has seen sales more than double after recent endorsements from celebrity chefs in the UK.

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