This is annual herb in the wallflower family which has been cultivated since ancient times. It other name, ‘Cole (or ‘Cole seed’), is preferred by many because of the second unfortunate meaning of the word rape. It grows 3 ft (1m) high with flowers of such an intense yellow that fields of them can be painful to the eyes. Some people experience unpleasant symptoms from the pollen in areas such as East Anglia where large amounts are grown. On a small scale, young leaves can be used like mustard greens in spring salads. Both the plant and seed cake are widely used as cattle food.
Of the vegetable oils, rape seed oil has the highest percentage of unsaturated fats with a good balance between poly – and mono unsaturated fats. As very inexpensive oil with a neutral flavor, it represents good value for frying, basting food in preparation for roasting or grilling, and for marinades. Commercially it is used for oiling loaves of bread before baking. It is also the main, and sometimes the only, ingredient of ‘blended’ oils. A little soya oil is usually the second partner.
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