Pearl onion

Pearl onions are cultivated mostly in Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy,[5] usually in home gardens,[1] although formerly on a commercial scale.[4] They are mostly used for pickling.[6]

The majority of onions grown for pickling are common onions (A. cepa).[7] They are grown to a small size suitable for pickling by planting at a high density.[8]

Known small white varieties include Crystal Wax,[5] or White Bermuda.[9] Red varieties are milder in flavour.[10] Pearl onions are ready to harvest from seed in 90 days.[9] They can be stored for up to a month in a cool, dry, dark place.[10][11]

Pickled pearl onions.

Because of its uniquely small size and a taste sweeter than that of a common onion,[2][9] it has also been used in dishes ranging from mid-20th-century American casserole dishes such as succotash to sweetly flavored onion relishes in Indian cuisine. It can also be used in stews soups or sautéed (fried) with other vegetables.[12][2][13] It can also be used in cocktails such as "martini standing".[5]

Pearl onions are a staple to the cuisine of Northern Europe. Also in modern Europe they are used as a beautiful flowering plant and in Israel as a cut flower.[4]

Pearl onions contain chemical compounds that have health benefits including helping cardiovascular health and stabilize blood sugar levels, and acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory.[10][11]

Larry Wall's yearly State of the Onion speeches about advancements in Perl programming, an allusion to the many layers of the language, are named as a pun both on the pearl onion and the US presidents' State of the Union addresses.