Onions are the most used flavouring vegetable in the world.
Most savoury dishes include one of the onion family – brown, white and red onions, garlic, chives, shallots, spring onions and leeks. All of these vary enormously in shape, size, colour, texture and intensity of flavour. New Zealand’s top onion growing area is Pukekohe, south of Auckland.
Varieties
Main crop onions
These are the most common onions and are available all year round. They are strongly flavoured, firm onions with layers of golden brown paper skins and white flesh. They are generally used for cooking rather than eaten raw. The most common varieties are Pukekohe Long Keeper and Pukekohe Early Long Keeper.
Available all year.