Belgian origin to Brussels sprouts

With the name "Brussels sprouts" it should not perhaps come as a surprise that their is a Belgian connection to the vegetable. The first reference to sprouts' existence is to be found in market records from the Belgian capital dating to the 13th century. It is thought, however, that the sprouts were first cultivated by Italian farmers much earlier than this. The use of the world Brussels in the nomenclature of the vegetable has often been considered to be something of a misnomer. It's not surprising when you consider that Swiss chard does not come from Switzerland and Jerusalem artichokes have no connection to Jerusalem, but this time it seems the name is a valid one.

The actual origin of the plant itself seems shrouded in mystery. It seems likely that it is a throwback to an uncultivated cabbage plant, much like wild cabbages found in the Mediterranean area today. The sprouts themselves would then be small cabbages, clustered around a central stem rather than growing independently at ground level like their more cultivated relatives.

Source: www.economictimes.indiatimes.com

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