Transylvanian Sorrel

Rumex acetosa 

Seeds per pack ~ 180-200

Germination: 93%  Feb 2024 (Packed for 2024-2025)  

A variety of garden sorrel with nice long, strap-shaped leaves. Good color and flavor all winter. Tolerates dry spells. Extremely hardy and perfect for the permaculture or gourmet garden. Add as a small part in salad mixes and sauces, and use it in sorrel soup. Originally collected by The Seed Ambassadors Project from a Hungarian farmer at the farmers market in Cluj, Romania in 2008. Our seed comes from the seed company they started, Adaptive Seeds in Oregon.

Transylvanian sorrel (Rumex acetosa ssp. transsilvanicus) is a unique variety of sorrel native to Eastern Europe, particularly the Transylvanian region of Romania. It shares some similarities with common sorrel (Rumex acetosa), but it has distinctive features that set it apart:

Characteristics: Transylvanian sorrel typically has long, slender, spear-shaped leaves with a bright green color. The leaves are slightly less acidic than common sorrel, offering a milder tangy taste. The flavor is lemony and tart, making it a refreshing addition to salads, soups, and sauces. It is a perennial herb that forms a low-growing rosette of leaves. It thrives in cool climates and can tolerate partial shade but prefers full sun. In late spring to early summer, it produces tall spikes of small, greenish flowers that later turn reddish.

Growing Tips: Prefers well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Needs consistent moisture but does not tolerate waterlogged conditions. Plant in full sun to partial shade. Regularly harvest leaves to encourage new growth and prevent bolting. Easily grown from seeds or by dividing mature plants.

Culinary Uses: Transylvanian sorrel is prized in traditional Romanian cuisine. Its slightly milder acidity makes it ideal for soups (such as Romanian ciorbă or sour soups), salads, mixed with other greens, sauces for fish or poultry, pestos and purees.

This variety is a fantastic addition to a diverse herb garden, offering culinary versatility and a touch of Eastern European heritage!