The Brussel sprout can divide opinion at the Christmas dinner table, but some people are left wondering why sprouts aren't served all year round. No matter which side of the Sprout fence you sit on, here are 19 facts you may not know about the most seasonal of vegetables.
1. Two-thirds of our total sprout consumption occurs outside the festive season in the UK and Britons eat more Brussels sprouts than anyone else in Europe.
2. Sprouts contain high levels of vitamins A and C, folic acid and dietary fibre, and can help protect against colon and stomach cancer.
3. An 80g serving of sprouts contains four times more vitamin C than an orange, and a cup of cooked Brussels sprouts contains only about 60 calories.
4. There are more than 110 different varieties of sprouts. This year’s top types look likely to be Albarus, Brodie and Kryptus, which have been bred specifically for flavour.
