Name: Cabbagecore.
Age: Ready for 2026.
Appearance: Red, green or white – your choice.
When you say cabbagecore, are you referring to the tough central stem of the familiar leafy cultivar? No, I’m alluding to the idea that cabbage is having a moment.
Cabbage the vegetable? The brassica, yes.
Vegetables don’t have moments; they have seasons. Actually, cabbage is grown pretty much year-round in Britain.
I get it. What about this moment it’s meant to be having? It’s undeniable. Pinterest is predicting that 2026 will be the year when “boomer and gen X will say goodbye to their cauliflower obsession and crown cabbage the new kitchen champ”.
I confess I missed out on gen X’s cauliflower obsession. In addition, a recent Vogue article detailed how the cabbage has moved from side dish to fashion icon.
What? How? Via designer Sandy Liang’s cabbage bag hitting the catwalk, cabbage-heavy advertising for Burberry and Highgrove’s country-posh collab, cabbage flowers turning up in floral arrangements, and classic cabbage crockery staging a comeback.
Cabbage crockery? Bordallo Pinheiro, the venerable Portuguese ceramics brand known for its cabbage-leaf-shaped plates and bowls, is reporting an uptick in demand.
So this moment is more vibe than veg. Not at all. Cabbage recipes are going viral, kimchi is all the rage, and charred cabbage is on every restaurant menu.
You mean cabbage is cool? Yes. “London’s Sexiest Produce Star is a Cabbage”, screamed a New York Times headline from August.
Any particular variety? According to the Times, the trendy hispi has taken over the capital, thanks to its availability, versatility and pointiness.
I suppose it’s also very good for you. Oh yes – cabbage contains lots of fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. It’s a veritable superfood.
I guess if some silly fashion trend gets more people eating cabbage, that’s no bad thing. Oh, no one’s actually eating it, at least not in the UK. According to figures from the government’s 2025 Family Food survey, cabbage consumption has fallen by 80% since 1974.
Its appeal is becoming more selective, let’s say. Exactly – that’s what makes it chic.
So if we’re not eating all this cabbage, what are we doing with it? We’re celebrating it, I suppose.
Hooray for cabbage. Should I buy some, or what? You’re a bit late for this particular bandwagon. Cabbage will probably be over by the time you get back from the shops.
Rats. Any idea what’s gonna be big in 2027? Who knows? Pipe smoking? Whist? Radishes?
Do say: “Abundant, affordable and tasty, cabbage deserves this brief moment in the spotlight.”
Don’t say: “Waiter, take this back to the kitchen and boil it properly.”
