Health Benefits Of Red Cabbage Water

The vegetable smell at the front of the bus is pervasive.

That's weird, says Sweezus. I thought I could smell red snakes. Now it's like....cabbage.

That'll be this drink, says Arthur. Want some?

He can't have any unless I say so, says Janice.

What is it? says Sweezus. It's blue.

Green, says Arthur.

He holds it up to the light of the window.

It is blue.

I'll pass, says Sweezus. Did you drink some?

Yes, says Arthur. When I thought it was green. Is it toxic?

I told you, Mum makes it, says Janice.

What with? says Sweezus.

Red cabbage, says Janice. It's red cabbage water.

No way! says Sweezus. Why's it blue?

Science, says Janice. Something about carbon dioxide.

It's a pigment , says the bus driver, over his shoulder. A pigment called anthocyanin that goes blue in an alkaline solution. When you boil the red cabbage the water turns alkaline because heat expels the carbon dioxide that's normally dissolved in water at room temperature. That's why red cabbage water is blue.

That's what I said, says Janice.

Let me try it, says Sweezus. He sips it.

Missing something, says Sweezus. It's got no zing. Maybe a dash of lemon....

That would turn it pink, says the driver. Being acidic.

Awesome! says Sweezus. I could sell that. Arthur, got a pencil?

Arthur feels in his pocket. Broken bamboo sticks, half a scorpion.... and.... a pencil he borrowed some time ago and failed to give back.

Wow, says Sweezus, China Airways! Thanks Arthur.

He writes: RED CABBAGE WATER and LEMON. Then he writes : ANTHOCYANIN.

Is that right? He shows it to the driver.

You are not supposed to show things to the driver. He might crash the bus.

The driver nods without looking. As if he would care. You meet all kinds of weird types on the road.