Red Boston Bibb lettuce is a butterhead type of lettuce. This distinction explains that each lettuce variety in the butterhead family will form compact rosette shaped heads and large, easily separated leaves that achieve a buttery quality in their texture. Red Boston Bibb lettuce may be more memorable than common Bibb lettuce as it contains anthocyanins, responsible for the lettuce's red pigments. Scientific studies prove that red colored food plants are more favorable in the consumer's eye.

Red Boston Bibb lettuce is a standard benchmark butterhead variety, displaying visual appeal along with superior texture and flavor. Red Boston Bibb lettuce has broad wavy green leaves tinted with colors of deep burgundy and copper. These leaves encompass more tightly bound and yellow tinted inner leaves. Together they form a rosette of leaves that have especially sweet, nutty and mild flavors paired with textures both buttery and crispy.

Serving Ideas

Red Boston Bibb lettuce can be showcased alone or alongside other salad greens. The best use of it, though is as the single green among companion ingredients such as bright herbs, including dill, basil and mint, aged and blue cheeses, citrus based dressings, bacon, shallots or leeks, nuts such as pistachios and marcona almonds, apples, pears, persimmons and sliced grapefruit.

Geography/History

Boston Bibb lettuce is named for its original cultivator, John Bibb. In 1865 he grew his special Bibb lettuce in Kentucky's alkaline soil. This variety, also called limestone, would become the very first American gourmet lettuce. Red Boston lettuce may actually be a descendent of the first ever cultivated red Butterleaf lettcue, Mervielle Des Quatre Saisons, a French heirloom introduced before 1885. Red Boston Bibb lettuce is grown in the field or in a super climate controlled greenhouse environment. Under greenhouse cultivation, nutrients are slow-fed into the plants, free of chemiclas and pesticides. Technology increases yields and drives the consistency of the growth and flavor of the plant.

Seasons/Availability

Red Boston lettuce is available year round.