‘Tearless onions’ are returning to Woolworths, offering a sweeter variety of onions that’s “less likely to make you cry when you cut it”.
After a successful trial in NSW and Victoria last year, Happy Chop – Tearless Onions will be back on shelves in May.
“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,” says Woolworths.
“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.”
According to Woolworths, Happy Chop – Tearless Onions were developed over decades using natural methods, including crossbreeding existing onion varieties.
“Tearless onions were trending last year and we’re excited to bring this incredible variety to even more of our customers,” says Woolworths Supermarkets General Manager Fruit & Veg Paul Turner.
“During the trial, lots of customers tried out the unique range and shared their experiences with us. For people who typically shed a tear or two when cutting onions, it’s really been a game changer for meal prep.
“As onion season gets into full swing during autumn, Happy Chop Tearless Onions are one of a number of onion varieties we will have on offer in our stores, giving our customers a wide range of fresh produce to choose from. With a little bit of a sweeter taste, they can be enjoyed raw in a salad or cooked in a casserole or soup.”
Happy Chop – Tearless Onions will be available in 500g packs for $2.50 at Woolworths stores in NSW, Victoria, the ACT, the NT, SA and Queensland until October.