Brassica oleracea - Brussels sprouts are members of the cabbage family and may have originated in Belgium. The vegetable has been cultivated for human consumption since Roman times. The sprouts, or buds as they are known, resemble miniature cabbages and form on stalks ranging in length from 60 to 120 centimeters. The buds are usually 2.5 to 4 centimeters in diameter. Brussels sprouts are tolerant of low temperatures and grow ideally in climates of 15 to 18 degrees.
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Belgium is a bridge connecting Germanic and Latin Europe through its cultural and language differences. The two distinct regions of Belgium are a reflection of those differences. Flanders, located in the north, is Germanic, while Walloon, located in the south, is Latin. Each region has its own language; Flemish speaking Flanders and French speaking Walloon. There is a small area along the German border with a large German speaking population; it had been a former territory of Germany.
