Teltows are turnips that were originally developed in the town of Teltow in the Berlin-Brandenburg area of Germany. They are no longer actually grown in Teltow but in the neighbouring town of Kleinstmengen. Many other varieties of turnip are now being sold as teltow, even though they aren’t really.Unlike most other turnips, Teltows are not round, but long like a carrot.
They have a bit of a sharp, piquant taste which is never bitter. They are considered a delicacy.
History Notes
Teltow turnips were considered one of the two finest turnip species (the other being the May Turnip). Goethe loved them and sent for them when he was at Weimar. They were also prized by the French aristocracy, who called them “navets de Teltow”. The variety had almost died out, but now efforts are being made to revive their cultivation (2004).
Language Notes
The full Latin name is “Brassica rapa var. rapifera subvar. pygmaea/Teltoviensis”.