There’s no use crying over onions any longer as Australia’s first crop of Happy Chop – Tearless Onions launches in Woolworths stores from later this week.
The unique onion variety is exactly as the name implies – an onion that’s less likely to make you cry when you cut it.
As a natural self-defense mechanism, onions release a combination of natural chemicals and enzymes (or ‘volatile compounds’) that can cause some tears and irritation when an onion is damaged or cut.
Happy Chop – Tearless Onions contain fewer of these compounds, and these compounds continue to reduce after they are harvested, compared to regular onions where these compounds increase over time. This means they become more tearless over time.
Happy Chop – Tearless Onions were developed over decades using natural methods, including cross-breeding existing onion varieties.
“We’re excited to bring this incredible variety to our customers to take the tears out of meal prep. I’ve heard all sorts of stories about how people avoid tears when cutting onions – whether that’s wearing glasses, freezing onions or wearing a mask,” Woolworths Supermarkets’ General Manager Fruit & Veg, Paul Turner said.
“These Happy Chop – Tearless Onions stand out as a unique innovation in Australian produce. Onions are a household staple and this is a great option for many people who end up in tears when preparing onions. It’s another way we continue to deliver on our promise to bring the best fresh fruit and veg to our customers.”
While being less pungent, Happy Chop – Tearless Onions retain a great onion flavour and are slightly sweeter than regular brown onions. They can be enjoyed raw or cooked.
They’ll be on sale from Wednesday.
