Batavia Lettuce

Batavia Lettuce is classed variously as a loose-leaf lettuce, or semi-heading lettuce. In hot weather, the lettuce is slow to bolt, and its crisp leaves that are like Romaine retain their crispness even in hot growing conditions.

It’s one of the favourites in France, owing both to its taste and its good shelf life after harvesting.

Varieties include Blonde de Paris, Dorée de Printemps, Gloire du Dauphiné, Laura, Nevada, Pasquier, Pierre Bénite, Polonaise, Reine des Glaces, Rouge Grenobloise, Rustica and Sierra.

From the above list, Blonde de Paris, Dorée de Printemps, Nevada, Pierre Bénite, and Reine des Glaces are green varieties.

Growing it requires about 50 days from seed to maturity.

Cooking Tips

Oily dressings cling easily to its leaves.

Equivalents

1 pound lettuce = 450g = approx 6 cups torn

8 oz lettuce = 225g = approx 3 cups torn
2 oz shredded lettuce = 50g = 1 cup
8 oz shredded lettuce = 200g = 4 cups

History Notes

Pierre Bénite and Reine des Glaces were documented in print in 1885 in Vilmorin-Andrieux’s “Les Plantes Potagères”.