They are famed as a vital but divisive element of the Christmas table.
But much of this year’s crop of Brussels sprouts is set to be a little different - closer in size to a pea than the traditional ping pong ball size brassica.
It is the result of the summer’s heatwave which saw the vegetable struggle to grow.
Supermarkets have had to find creative ways to get around the resulting shortage; and Waitrose has chosen to embrace the availability of smaller versions, selling them packaged as “baby sprouts”.
Hannah Steward, Technical Manager at Waitrose & Partners explained: 'Sprouts have had a tricky time this year, but our suppliers have worked incredibly hard and the quality this year is superb.
“Due to the very warm weather over the summer and the long growing period of sprouts, we spoke with our farmers to figure out the best way to maximise the crop. This year our baby sprouts or 'sproutlets' will be widely available.
“Measuring around 15mm (instead of the usual size of up to 40mm), these sprouts allow our farmers to utilise the most of their crop without forgoing flavour, texture and taste.”
While they are ignored for most of the season, demand for sprouts soars in mid-December, going up 800 per cent from the 10th to the 17th.
However, those looking in their supermarket for good-sized globes will be disappointed; sprouts across the board will be smaller this year, and may be more expensive as farmers faced such a tough year.
Vernon Mascarenhas from Nature’s Choice at New Covent Garden Market, supplies restaurants and hotels across London.
He told The Sunday Telegraph that the baby sprouts “haven’t been grown especially as miniature,” they are the same variety that just failed to grow..
Mr Mascarenhas added: "With the hot summer and lack of rain, they just didn't grow to the normal size, so they're being sold as baby sprouts.
"It's a problem across all supermarkets. If you look across the supermarkets they won't be as large as usual.”
However, there is a bright side to the tiny sprout problem - not only do they look dinky on the dinner table, they may taste better too.
The trader explained that smaller sprouts are less likely to go soggy, adding: "However this isn't so much of a problem it's good for chefs, they will cook evenly and be less likely to be soggy, they won't need to be crossed across the top.
"Because they're smaller they're easier to roast, too."
Some restaurants have foregone sprouts altogether because of the cost and put kale on the Christmas menu instead.
He said: “Restaurants are having to adjust their Christmas menus as they don't have the produce.
"They will be using kale instead and other forms of cabbage. It's been a very good year for kale. The weather the sprouts didn't like, kale did like.”
Shrunken sprouts aren’t the only problem hitting the Christmas dinner table; farmers have reported that root vegetables including carrots, parsnips and potatoes have also been harvested at a smaller-than-usual size.
**UK24News**
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