Almost Flat Onion?

[Crocus]

I was in the veggie shop the other day, and noticed flat onions, almost completely flat. I would say about 3 cm in height, and as about 10cm in diameter. I've never seen such onions, there's no difference in taste, everything else in fact is the same, except for it to be flat. I asked the lady working in the veggie shop and she didn't know at all.


I forgot to take a picture, actually the camera batteries finally said goodbye, and I used the last one know. Will have a look tomorrow in the veggie shop if they still have it. It was in a different container than your usual onions, so presumably it's a different variety.

Do you know anything about flat onions?

[dragonfly]

I've never heard of them Crocus, would like to see a pic of them.

[Crocus]

I must go to the veggie shop tomorrow DF and will have a look if they have more of these "flattene" onions. x

[Gentian]

Bet they are easy to chop!

[Crocus]

They actually are easy to chop, you're quite right Gen. Come to think of it, it didn't sting my eyes like your usual onion though. I just hope there will be some of these strange onions in the shop tomorrow. x

[Gentian]

Tip on chopping onion, it is the root that makes you cry, so never cut into it and I will guarantee you will be dry-eyed.

[Crocus]

Oh okay, thanks Gen! Someone once told me to cut an onion under running water which I did, but it didn't help a whole lot.

[Crocus]

Fortunately I could get hold of some of these flattened onions but no one at the veggie shop could give me any information.

5906

[Ivy]

Oh yes I have seen some of those in our organic veggie shop. (so they can't be GM) must be a new or alternatively very old breed

[Crocus]

I had a look on Google and apparently it's an Italian variety called cipollini. It's quite a bit sweeter than usual onions and I've just sliced one of these onions in a salad and my eyes didn't sting at all. The smell isn't as strong as well. x

[dragonfly]

I haven't seen those before.

[Crocus]

Hi DF, me neither until about a month ago when I noticed in the veggie shop. The taste is definitely much sweeter, and it doesn't sting one's eyes at all and also the smell is not as strong. x

Iv'e googled it and this is what I could find:

"Cipollini Sweet onion Seeds Gold Coin Gourmet Cipollini Sweet onion Seeds Gold Coin Gourmet
Gold Coin Cipollini Onion seeds. Golden cipollini flat onion. Excellent for for soups, stews, salads, and pickling. Pungent and sweet. Stores well. For bunching or braiding. Deliciously sweet when cooked. These flattened little onions are sought after for their distinct sweet taste. They command a high price at specialty markets. Try growing these tiny onions in your home garden. 85 days. Allium cepa. Growing instructions included".