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As a member of the Brassicaceae family, the broccoli plant is a distant cousin of the common cabbage.
The stalk and flowers of broccoli, rather than the leaves, are the most edible parts (although you can eat them too).
So, what's the deal with broccoli, and why is it so divisive? We'd better look closer and find out!
#1. The Romans placed a high value on broccoli.
Broccoli has a much longer history than you might think.
Broccoli, like many other vegetables we eat today, was cultivated from a variety of plants and then selectively bred to become the vegetable we know today.
The Etruscans, an ancient Italian civilization that predated the Roman Empire, were the first to cultivate this vegetable.
Around the sixth century BC, the Etruscans began cultivating the vegetable.
Many aspects of Etruscan culture were adopted by the Romans, including their fondness for broccoli.
#2. It was known as Italian asparagus in England.
Broccoli, as previously stated, is a member of the cabbage family, which also includes cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, collard greens, and kohlrabi.
Despite this, when the vegetable first arrived in England, it was mistaken for asparagus.
In fact, despite being a favorite of the Romans, it appears to have taken a long time to spread beyond Italy.
The first mention of it in France, for example, dates back to the 1500s!
It was still relatively unknown in England more than 200 years later, being referred to as "Italian asparagus" in a popular gardening dictionary.
#3. Broccoli did not become popular in the United States until the 1920s.
One of the earliest records we have relating to broccoli in the United States dates back to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.
Jefferson, you see, had a bit of a green thumb, and as such, he would frequently share seeds with some of his European friends.
Broccoli seeds were among the seeds he received and planted at his estate in Virginia on May 27, 1767.
It wasn't until the 1920s that broccoli became a common sight, thanks to Italian migrants who brought it over and regularly consumed it.
Even then, it was almost entirely consumed by Italian migrants and their descendants for decades before becoming more widely consumed.
#4. Broccoli was prohibited on Air Force One by George H.W. Bush.
Some people despise broccoli, while others despise it so much that they publicly declare that they will never see the vegetable again.
That man, believe it or not, was George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States of America.
"I do not like broccoli, and I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it, and I’m president of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more broccoli," Bush said during a press conference.
When asked why he had banned the vegetable from all Air Force One flights, he made this declaration.
#5. Broccoli is extremely beneficial to one's health!
First and foremost, if you know how to properly cook broccoli, it can be absolutely delicious.
Most people who dislike it, including George H. W. Bush, have probably only ever had it in an overcooked mushy gross state.
The truth is that broccoli is extremely beneficial to your health, so much so that the term "superfood" is frequently applied to it.
It is high in protein, fiber, and vitamin C, and a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium, and calcium, among other nutrients.
It's also high in antioxidants, good for digestion, and has even been linked to cancer prevention!
It's time to put an end to the broccoli stigma.
There is no such thing as a bad vegetable, but there is unquestionably a bad cook.
If you've never been a fan of a vegetable like broccoli, perhaps you should go ask a friend.
