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Stop Buying Kale: 3 Heirloom Varieties That Taste Better Than Grocery Store Greens

Let’s be honest: for a lot of people, eating kale feels like a chore.

When you buy it at the supermarket, you usually get one option: a massive, thick-stemmed bunch of curly greens that tastes bitter and requires a ten-minute "massage" with olive oil just to make it chewable.

But here is the secret that grocery stores don’t tell you: Commercial kale is bred for shipping, not for flavor.

Commercial farms prioritize tough leaves that won't wilt in a truck during a cross-country journey. The result? You get leather; they get shelf life.

When you grow heirloom kale from seed, you are playing by a different set of rules. You can grow varieties that are too delicate for supermarkets but are packed with sweetness, nuttiness, and a tender crunch that will change your mind about this superfood.

Here are three heirloom varieties available at 99 Heirlooms that will ruin grocery store kale for you forever.

1. The Salad Lover’s Choice: Red Russian Kale

If you think kale is "too tough" for a raw salad, meet the game-changer. Red Russian kale doesn't have the frilly, fibrous texture of standard kale. Instead, it has flat, oak-shaped leaves with stunning purple veins.

  • The Flavor Factor: It is exceptionally tender and significantly sweeter than green curly varieties.
  • Why Homegrown is Best: Red Russian gets even sweeter after a light frost. When you grow it yourself, you can harvest the "baby greens" just 25 days after planting for the best salad base you’ve ever tasted.
  • Best Use: Raw in salads or lightly wilted in pasta.

2. The Smooth Operator: Premier Kale

Also known as "Early Hanover," this is a variety you almost never see in stores because it wilts faster than the tough commercial types—which means it is perfect for the home garden.

  • The Flavor Factor: Premier Kale is prized for its lack of bitterness. It has a smooth leaf texture (no curly crevices for dirt or bugs to hide in!) and a rich, earthy flavor that holds up well without becoming stringy.
  • Why Homegrown is Best: It is a heavy yielder. You can snap off the bottom leaves for dinner, and the plant will keep producing fresh new growth from the top all season long.
  • Best Use: Smoothies (it blends effortlessly) or quick sautés with garlic.

3. The Chip Champion: Vates - Blue Curled Scotch

Okay, you love the look of classic curly kale, but you want flavor? Vates Blue Curled Scotch is the heirloom answer to the standard supermarket variety. It is compact, beautiful, and practically bulletproof in the garden.

  • The Flavor Factor: While it looks like the store-bought stuff, the flavor is nutty and savory rather than grassy.
  • Why Homegrown is Best: Freshness changes the texture. When you cut Vates Blue Curled straight from the garden, the curls are crisp and crunchy, not rubbery.
  • Best Use: Kale Chips. The curly texture grabs onto oil and seasonings, baking into the perfect crispy snack.

The Verdict?

Life is too short for tough greens. By spending a few dollars on heirloom seeds, you aren't just saving money on your grocery bill—you are upgrading your dinner plate.

Ready to plant? Browse our full collection of Heirloom Kale Seeds and start your garden-to-table journey today.

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