Broccoli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Broccoli |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Species | Brassica oleracea |
| Cultivar group | italica |
| Origin | Italy, more than 2,000 years ago |
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a green plant that people eat as a vegetable. It belongs to the cabbage family. We eat its large flower head, stalk, and small leaves. Broccoli is part of the Italica cultivar group of the Brassica oleracea species.
Broccoli usually has dark green flower heads. These heads grow in a tree-like shape from a thick, light green stalk. Leaves surround the mass of flower heads. Broccoli looks a lot like cauliflower, which is a close relative. You can eat broccoli raw or cooked. It is full of vitamin C and vitamin K. Boiling broccoli can reduce some of its healthy compounds. But steaming, microwaving, or stir-frying keeps them better.
Rapini, sometimes called "broccoli rabe," is not true broccoli. It is a type of turnip (Brassica rapa).
Contents
What Does "Broccoli" Mean?
The word broccoli first appeared in the 17th century. It comes from the Italian word broccolo. This means "the flowering top of a cabbage". It also means "small nail" or "sprout".
Where Did Broccoli Come From?
Broccoli was first grown in the northern Mediterranean area. This happened around the sixth century BC. It likely started from plants grown in the Roman Empire. Farmers probably made it better through selective breeding in southern Italian Peninsula or Sicily.
Broccoli came to northern Europe by the 1700s. Italian immigrants brought it to North America in the 1800s. After World War II, new types of broccoli were created. These new types grew faster and had better quality. Popular types like 'Premium Crop' and 'Marathon' came from this work.
Broccoli's Relatives
Broccoli is part of the Brassica oleracea species. Many other common vegetables are also in this group. These include cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. They are all related to broccoli.
Because they are the same species, they can mix together. For example, broccolini is a mix of broccoli and kai-lan.
Types of Broccoli
There are three main types of broccoli that people grow.
- Calabrese broccoli is the most common type. It is often just called "broccoli." It has large green heads and thick stalks. It grows best in cool weather.
- Sprouting broccoli can be white or purple. It has many small heads with thin stalks.
- Purple cauliflower or violet cauliflower is also a type of broccoli. It looks like cauliflower but has many tiny flower buds. It can be purple, white, red, or green.
Some other popular types are Belstar, Blue Wind, and Green Magic. There is also a special type called Beneforté. It has more of a healthy compound called glucoraphanin. This type was made by crossing broccoli with a wild plant.
How to Grow Broccoli
Most broccoli types like cool weather. They do not grow well when it is hot. Broccoli grows best when the temperature is between 18 and 23 degrees Celsius (64 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit).
When the cluster of flowers, or "head," appears, it is usually green. You should cut the head about 1 inch (25 mm) from the top. It is important to harvest broccoli before its flowers turn bright yellow.
How Much Broccoli is Grown?
In 2019, the world produced 27 million tonnes of broccoli and cauliflower. China and India grew most of this, about 73% of the total. Other big producers include the United States, Spain, and Mexico.
In the United States, most broccoli comes from California. Broccoli cannot be picked by machines. This means that people must harvest it by hand.
Broccoli and Your Health
A 100-gram serving of raw broccoli has 34 calories. It is a great source of vitamin C and vitamin K. It also has some B vitamins and manganese. Broccoli is mostly water (89%). It also has carbohydrates (7%) and protein (3%). It has very little fat.
Cooking Broccoli
Boiling broccoli can reduce some of its healthy compounds. These are called glucosinolates. Other ways of cooking, like steaming, microwaving, and stir-frying, keep these compounds better.
Why Broccoli Can Taste Bitter
Broccoli can sometimes taste bitter. This is because it contains compounds called glucosinolates. Some people are more likely to taste this bitterness. This is because of a gene they have called TAS2R38.
Broccoli Pests
Several insects like to eat broccoli plants.
- "Cabbage worms" are a common pest. These are the larvae of the small white butterfly.
- Other pests include Aphids and Cabbage loopers.
- The Diamondback moth and Cabbage maggot can also harm broccoli.
Images for kids
-
Furrow flood irrigation on a field of broccoli raised for seed in Yuma, Arizona.
-
Broccoli in flower
-
Sicilian purple broccoli
-
Broccoli "giant", whose flowering head and stalk can reach a kilo.
(NRCS_Photo_Gallery).jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Brócoli para niños
