Everything about Brussels Sprout totally explained
» This article is about the plant. For the pencil game, see Sprouts (game).
The
Brussels (or
brussels or
brussel)
sprout (
Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group) of the
Brassicaceae family, is a
cultivar group of
Wild Cabbage cultivated for its small (typically 2.5 - 4cm, 1 - 1.5 inches diameter) leafy green buds, which resemble miniature cabbages.
Cultivation
Forerunners to modern Brussels sprouts were likely cultivated in
Ancient Rome. Brussels sprouts as we now know them were grown possibly as early as the
1200s in what is now
Belgium. The first plantings in California's
Central Coast began in the 1920s, with significant production beginning in the 1940s. Currently there are several thousand acres planted in
coastal areas of
San Mateo,
Santa Cruz, and
Monterey Counties of
California, which offer an ideal combination of coastal fog and cool temperatures year-round. The harvest season lasts from June through January. They are also grown in
Baja California, where the harvest season is from December through June. Total United States production is approximately 32,000 tons, with a value of $27 million. In Continental Europe the largest producers are the
Netherlands, at 82,000 metric tons, and Germany, at 10,000 tons. England has production comparable to that of the Netherlands, but isn't generally exported internationally.
80% to 85% of US production is for the
frozen food market, with the remainder for fresh consumption. Microwaving, stir frying, roasting and steaming are also options.
Overcooking releases
sulfur compounds in the vegetables that give it a distinctive smell commonly found unpleasant. If correctly cooked, the unpleasant smell is avoided and the vegetable possesses a delicate nutty flavor.
In the
UK, Brussels sprouts are a traditional winter
vegetable, and are often eaten boiled with a roast dinner, particularly at
Christmas. They can also be stir-fried, roasted, or made into
soup.
Gallery
Image:BrusselsSproutField200503_CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg|A field of Brussels sprouts after harvest
Image:BrusselsSprouts-OnVine.jpg|Brussels sprouts on the stalk
Image:Brussels-sprouts-on-stalk.jpg|Brussels sprouts on stalks
Grammatical usage
The term
Brussels sprout is a
countable noun whose plural form is
Brussels sprouts. A commonly used alternative form is
brussel sprout, whose plural is
brussel sprouts. However, linking the name with the
Belgian capital of
Brussels would argue against dropping the last "s" in the first word (although the Dutch name for the city is "Brussel").
Style consideration
Some house styles (for example,
the Chicago Manual of Style) prefer to lowercase words derived from geographical names when used with a non-literal meaning: brussels sprouts.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Brussels Sprout'.
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