Chioggia Beet

History

The Chioggia beet takes its name from the ancient fishing town of Chioggia, a picturesque settlement built on small islands at the southern entrance to the Venetian Lagoon, often called "Little Venice" for its canals and bridges. This Italian heirloom was first documented in seed catalogs in the early 1840s, though local cultivation in the Veneto region likely predates these records significantly. The beet's dramatic candy-striped interior—concentric rings of deep magenta and creamy white—made it a sensation in Victorian-era kitchens, where elaborate food presentation was highly prized. The pattern earned it numerous nicknames: candy cane beet, bullseye beet, and bassano beet (after another town in the Veneto region). While the striking rings fade to a uniform pink when cooked, this "flaw" was actually embraced by Italian cooks who appreciated the milder, sweeter flavor that develops when the beet is roasted. The variety became particularly popular with American market gardeners in the late 19th century, appearing in catalogs like Burpee's as early as 1865. Interest waned during the mid-20th century as commercial agriculture favored uniformly red beets, but the heirloom revival of the 1990s brought Chioggia back to prominence. Today, it appears on restaurant menus across fine dining establishments, where chefs showcase its raw beauty in carpaccio preparations, thinly shaved salads, and artful garnishes. The Chioggia represents the intersection of agricultural heritage and modern gastronomy—a living link to the vegetable gardens that surrounded medieval Venice, now gracing contemporary plates with its timeless beauty.