Savoy cabbage and unusual seasonings such as juniper. Signs of desirable quality include cabbage that is heavy for its size with leaves that are unblemished and have a bright, fresh look. Peak season for most cabbages in the Northern Hemisphere runs from November through April. Fresh whole cabbage will keep in the refrigerator for one to six weeks depending on type and variety. Hard green, white or red cabbages will keep the longest while the looser Savoy and Chinese varieties such as napa and bok choy need to be consumed more quickly. It is necessary to keep the outer leaves intact without
Fat choy Fat choy Fat choy (; "Nostoc flagelliforme") is a terrestrial cyanobacterium (a type of photosynthetic bacteria) that is used as a vegetable in Chinese cuisine. When dried, the product has the appearance of black hair. For that reason, its name in Chinese means "hair vegetable." When soaked, fat choy has a soft texture which is like very fine vermicelli. Fat choy grows on the ground in the Gobi Desert and the Qinghai Plateau. Over-harvesting on the Mongolian steppes has furthered erosion and desertification in those areas. The Chinese government has limited its harvesting, which has caused its price to increase.