Brussels Sprouts
"Brussels sprout closeup" — Photo by Eric Hunt / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.5
The miniature cabbages that divide dinner tables.
These small, leafy vegetables are a staple of festive winter feasts across the United Kingdom. Often misunderstood and frequently left on the plate, they belong to the Gemmifera group of a very common culinary plant species.
Did you know?
If you find them bitter, you might have a specific gene variant that makes you taste a chemical compound called PTC, which is present in these veggies.
“I am a tiny orb of tightly packed potential.”
“My historical journey is said to have roots near a Belgian capital.”
“I am a member of the Brassica oleracea family, resembling a miniature version of a much larger leafy cousin.”
“I am often the most contentious guest at a traditional Sunday roast.”
“I look like a small cabbage and am traditionally a staple of Christmas dinner in Britain.”