is finely sliced [A title=Cabbage href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage"]white cabbage[/A] [A title=Fermentation href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermentation"]fermented[/A] by various [A title="Lactic acid bacteria" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid_bacteria"]lactic acid bacteria[/A] including [A title=Leuconostoc href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leuconostoc"]Leuconostoc[/A], [A title=Lactobacillus href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactobacillus"]Lactobacillus[/A] and [A title=Pediococcus href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pediococcus"]Pediococcus[/A]. It has good keeping qualities and a distinctive sour flavor that both result from [A title="Lactic acid" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactic_acid"]lactic acid[/A], which forms when the bacteria ferment sugars in the fresh cabbage. The word comes from the [A title="German language" href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language"]German[/A] Sauerkraut, which literally translates to sour cabbage. Sauerkraut is a prominent feature of cuisines from most of the cold regions of [A title=Europe href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe"]Europe[/A], and it is eaten in many parts in the [A title=U.S.A. href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.A."]U.S.A.[/A] and [A title=Canada href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada"]Canada[/A] as well. The similar food is also seen in [A title=Manchuria href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchuria"]Manchuria[/A], where it is called "suan cai" in [A title=Mandarin href="vny!://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin"]Mandarin[/A].