Origin: Broccoli natively belongs to the Mediterranean region. Broccoli has been considered a very valuable and significant food by the Italians since the Roman Empire. When the broccoli was first introduced in England in the mid-18th century, it was famously referred to as "Italian asparagus."
There was a famous gardener, Jeffree Thompson, who started experimenting with the broccoli seeds and brought them over from Italy in the late 1700s. The commercial cultivation of broccoli started in the 1500s and became a popular foodstuff in the United States until Southern Italian immigrants brought it over in the early 1920s.
It is also believed that it was made through a cabbage relative by the Etruscans—an ancient Italian civilization who lived in Tuscany. It is engineered through horticulture science. Its English name, broccoli, is derived from the Italian word broccolo, which means "the flowering crest of a cabbage," and in the Latin brachium meaning arm, branch, or shoot.
Scientifically: Broccoli in the botanical language is known as Brassica oleracea italica. It is an edible green plant and belongs to the cabbage family. It has a large flowering head and stalk is eaten as a vegetable. It is favored a lot by the Italians and is considered an important ingredient in Italian food. Broccoli is also classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea. It is arranged in a tree-like structure branching out from a thick edible stalk which is usually light green.
It is a fast-growing perennial plant that grows 60–90 cm tall in height. Broccoli plant usually has leathery leaves and has dense green clusters of flower buds at the ends of the central axis and the branches. If the broccoli is not harvested, it bears yellow flowers. Broccoli grows in moderate to cool climates and is grown by seeds. It is either sown directly in the field or is sowed in plant beds to produce transplants. The florets develop within 60-150 days depending on the weather conditions.
Usage: Broccoli is high in dietary fiber and has a number of vitamins and minerals, including potassium, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, and K. Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable and can be eaten fresh or cooked. It is one of the best healthy vegetables and supports weight loss. It is recommended by many dieticians to include broccoli in their diets.
Broccoli is also used for preventing Prostate cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, bladder cancer, and stomach cancer. It also boosts the immune system. It is also full of antioxidant and vitamin C, which helps in achieving beautiful skin.
Below are some DIYs with Broccoli:
- Boil a floret of broccoli and once chilled puree it. Apply this puree on the face for 15 minutes. Wash it off later. This helps in detoxifying the skin.
- Finely grate a floret of broccoli and add a tablespoon of yogurt to it. Mix some honey and apply this mixture on the face. This mask helps in slowing down the aging of the skin. Wash it off after 10 minutes and achieve younger-looking skin.
- Chop few florets of the broccoli and boil them in water. Boil until the water reduces to half. Once boiled, let it chill. Later use this water as a hair rinse. This helps in adding luster to the skin.