GREEN BROCCOLI and PURPLE BROCCOLI

Broccoli’s Latin-name is well known as Brasicca oleracea, which is a part of cabbage family. Broccoli is originally cultivated in Northern Mediterranean area of Italy. There, broccoli is healthy grown because the land is exceedingly prosperous and the weather’s temperature is between 18 and 23 °C (64 and 73 °F). There are many varieties of broccoli such as green broccoli and purple broccoli. Each variety has different characteristic, cultivation, function, treatment, nutritional value, and even taste.

When we look at their characteristic, they are completely different. The most obvious differences that we can observe, is the color of the head. Green broccoli as the name, the color is dark bluish green head, while purple broccoli has a deep purple tinge. The measure of the head is also different. The purple is smaller than the green. The head of purple broccoli is leafier, a bit tougher in texture, and slightly bitter in taste. Conversely, green broccoli has a tender texture and mild taste.

The most interesting fact between green and purple broccoli, is they are also having differences in nutritional value and function. Green broccoli has an excellent source of anti-oxidant, vitamin C fiber, folate, supplies calcium, iron, vitamin E, vitamin A, potassium, and phytonutrients. Phytonitrients, which are include glucosinolates, caratenoids, and phenolic compound. Phytonutrients are aimed to serve the circulatory system, potent anti-cancer compound, and help to reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. The opposite, purple broccoli has even higher levels of vitamin C, folate, iron, calcium, isotonic, glucolin, and anthocyanins. Those serve to protect heart disease by improving circulation and prevent blood clots. Isotonic and glukosin work to prevent the rise and development of cancer, by activating enzymes to inhibit and suppress the production of cancer.

The cultivation and the treatment of green broccoli are easier than purple broccoli because purple broccoli grows more slowly and less productive. It makes the price is more expensive. That is why some Indonesian people never see purple broccoli and feel strange with it. Indonesia does not cultivate it because of the high price and the hard treatment. The climate in Indonesia is tropical that identical with hot temperature. Whereas, broccoli needs humid temperature to grow healthy just like in Italy. The climate in there is range from humid subtropical to humid continental and oceanic. Notably, purple broccoli which more sensitive in growing, it will be hard to grow in Indonesia. Therefore, Indonesian’s choose to cultivate the green broccoli, but sometimes the result is not good enough. In fact, both green and purple broccoli are hard planting. The wrong treatment will cause extremely unpleasant smell of sulfur. It means the harvest is rakishness.

Respectively, both purple and green broccoli has the hallmarks and shortcomings. Green broccoli that has an excellent anti-oxidant but the nutrition value is not as complete as the purple broccoli and purple broccoli, which has the higher levels of vitamin C but less productive. However, both are the best in their own way. 

BY LAILATUL KHIKMAH