Romaine (lettuce) : Romaine is a variety of lettuce (family of Asteraceae - Botanical name: Lactuca sativa var. longifolia) elongated in shape, with long very green, firm, thick and brittle outer leaves and inner leaves of a less intense green, and more tender. It has a slightly aniseed and leaves are equipped with large crunchy ribs under the tooth.
Once considered a weed, the Romans cultivated wild lettuce for its medicinal qualities (it served as a base for the preparation of anesthetics). Following numerous crosses intended to increase its yield, farmers created a stemless lettuce with long edible leaves: romaine lettuce.
Over time, the culture of lettuces spread (from China to Europe in the XNUMXth century, then on the American continent) and gave birth to multiple varieties.
Adapted to all temperatures, it supports cool climates and has a very good resistance to summer heat, which explains why it is grown all over the world.
She didn't originally show a heart, but selection tends to improve her formation.
Due to their firmness, the outer leaves are most often used for cooking while the inner leaves can be eaten raw. In order to reduce its bitterness, it must be blanched by leaving it for a few minutes in boiling water.