




Broccolini® (Aspirations)
Inventory, 18 ct : 97.62
This item was last sold on : 06/04/23
Description/Taste
Broccolini® consists of elongated, tubular stems, averaging 10 to 15 centimeters in length, and transitions into dark green leaves traveling up the stem, spreading into small, clustered florets at the top. The narrow stems are bright green, firm, and smooth with a dense, crunchy, and succulent consistency. The leaves and florets are dark green with a delicate, brittle, and crisp texture. Broccolini® has a fresh, green taste with subtle peppery and mustard-like undertones. The vegetable is milder than common broccoli, and when cooked, the flavor becomes understated with fresh, sweet nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Broccolini® is available year-round.
Current Facts
Broccolini® is a naturally developed hybrid vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family. The sweet and tender variety was produced from traditional hand-pollinated crosses between gai lan and broccoli and is not genetically modified. Broccolini® is also known as Aspirations and was created in Japan as a crop to complement the seasonal sales of cool-season broccoli. Broccolini® grows best in temperate climates and can be grown year-round and worldwide, but the vegetable has remained a luxury variety due to the cultivar’s challenging growth characteristics and multiple harvest requirements. Despite its demanding nature, Broccolini® has amassed a small following among chefs and broccoli enthusiasts for the variety’s mild, sweet flavor, zero waste nature, and tender, crunchy consistency.
Nutritional Value
Broccolini® is an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system while reducing inflammation, and is a good source of fiber and vitamin A. The cultivar also provides calcium to protect bones and teeth, iron to build the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport in the blood, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and lower amounts of folate, vitamin K, and manganese.
Applications
Broccolini® has a delicate nature and sweet, peppery flavor well suited for both raw and cooked applications. The hybrid cultivar does not need to be peeled before use and was designed to withstand high heat, utilized in roasted, stir-fried, sauteed, steamed, or blanched preparations. Broccolini® can be shaved into green salads, and the entire vegetable is edible, including the stem, leaves, and florets. It can also be blanched and tossed into pasta, chopped and mixed into grain bowls, layered on appetizer plates with creamy cheeses and dips, or tossed in light-bodied vinegar and served as a bright side dish. Beyond lightly cooked applications, Broccolini® can be stir-fried into vegetable medleys, roasted with meats, or used as a topping over pizza. Broccolini® pairs well with meats such as poultry, turkey, beef, pork, and fish, aromatics such as ginger, garlic, and onions, cheeses such as parmigiano, burrata, goat, and feta, tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, carrots, citrus, and olives. Whole, unwashed Broccolini® will keep 5 to 10 days when stored in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Broccolini® is known around the world by many different names, and these names were created from targeted marketing plans to popularize the new vegetable. The variety was originally released as Aspirations, a term developed by Sakata Seed in reference to the company’s hopes of the new variety being successful. The name was also created to encourage consumers to relate the variety’s elongated stalks with the tender nature of asparagus, despite the cultivar not having any genetic ties with asparagus. Once Aspirations was introduced to the United States, it was renamed by the Mann Packing Company in Salinas, California. Mann Packing Company’s Chief Operating Officer’s wife, Debbi Nucci, developed the name Broccolini®, and the company filed a registered trademark for the name in 1998 in an effort to rebrand the new vegetable. The name Broccolini® was developed to associate the cultivar with baby broccoli as the American consumer market has a fondness for baby vegetables. Broccolini® was met with a positive response nationwide and is the primary label used in the United States today. Broccolini® is also known under other names, including Asparbroc, Chinese Baby Broccoli, Tender Stem, Broccoletti, and Broccolini Brand Baby Broccoli.
Geography/History
Broccolini® was developed by Sakata Seeds, a seed breeding company based in Yokohama, Japan, with offices worldwide. The variety was created from a Sakata Seed annual research meeting in the 1980s in Japan between marketing and sales professionals, seed breeding scientists, and experts. Sakata Seed is one of the world’s leading supplier of broccoli seeds, and during the research meeting, an idea was developed to create a type of vegetable similar to broccoli that could be grown in warmer climates year-round. It was important to the research team that the new variety maintained some physical similarities to broccoli, but the entire vegetable should be edible to reduce food waste. It took over seven years for the new vegetable to be created, first labeled under the name Aspirations, and was released to Japanese growers in 1993. Aspirations was later introduced in 1996 to the United States and was sold through licensed growers in Northern California. The leading partnership was with the Mann Packing Company of Salinas, one of the largest distributors of fresh broccoli. The company aggressively marketed the new variety as a sweeter, high-end variant of broccoli and eventually trademarked and renamed Aspirations to Broccolini® in 1998. Today Broccolini® is considered a specialty variety primarily found through farmer’s markets and select grocers and is sold in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
Coffee Hub and Café | San Diego CA | (619)738-1482 |
Primal Balance Nutrition LLC | San Marcos CA | 760-822-2904 |
Hotel Indigo | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
Born & Raised | San Diego CA | 619-944-1631 |
Avant | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co. | San Diego CA | 619-368-3705 |
The Compass | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-1900 |
US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Swagyu Inc. | Poway CA | 619-519-6043 |
Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
Ulivo | San Diego CA | 619-962-7345 |
On the Crawl Concepts-Inland Tavern | San Marcos CA | 760-744-8782 |
Nolita Hall | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
Cucina Sorella | San Diego CA | 858-232-7808 |
MCRD-Marine Corps Recruit Dept | San Diego CA | 619-725-6478 |
Waverly | Cardiff CA | 619-244-0416 |
Beach Plum Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-688-8682 |
Convention Center Shell | San Diego CA | 619-954-3063 |
Hyatt Islandia | San Diego CA | 619-224-1234 |
Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering | San Diego CA | 619-838-8268 |
Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
Candor | La Jolla CA | 858-581-2205 |
Hilton Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-5200 x4234 |
West Brew-Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-726-6567 |
Humphery's | San Diego CA | 619-224-3577 |
Cucina Enoteca | Del Mar CA | 619-239-2222 |
Revolution Roasters | Oceanside CA | 760-330-6827 |
JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
The Farm Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-5585 |
Thyme for Something Homemade | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-245-1004 |
Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
Miho | San Diego CA | 619-365-5655 |
Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
Alila Marea Beach Resort (Banquets) | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
Vincents | Escondido CA | 760-745-3835 |
Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
AToN Center Inc. | Encinitas CA | 858-759-5017 |
Hoxton Manor | San Diego CA | 760-586-9533 |
Campfire | Carlsbad CA | 760-637-5121 |
Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
Mermaids & Cowboys | La Jolla CA | 858-999-0205 |
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
The Tavern | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
Fresco Cocina | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
HiroNori Ramen | San Diego CA | 619-446-9876 |
Cardiff Seaside Market | Cardiff CA | 760-753-5445 |
Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
The Seabird Resort | Oceanside CA | 951-704-9703 |
Smoking Gun | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 |
Campo Gourmet | ||
All Aspects Catering and Events | San Diego CA | 855-287-7658 |
264 Fresco (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
Shogun Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
Sycuan Casino - Bull & Bourbon | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
Bang Bang | San Diego CA | 619-382-8938 |
Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
Communal Coffee | San Diego CA | 619-305-9525 |
Mesa College | San Diego CA | 619-388-2240 |
Sepulveda Meats & Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-501-1878 |
Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
Open Gym-White Rice Bodega | San Diego CA | 619-289-9182 |
Farmers Bottega | San Diego CA | 619-306-8963 |
The Lion Share | San Diego CA | 619-564-6924 |
Solare Ristorante Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-270-9670 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
PFC Fitness Camp | Carlsbad CA | 888-488-8936 |
San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
Polaris Supreme | San Diego CA | 619-390-7890 |
Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
Marriott Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-369-6029 |
Zeca Trading Co. | San Diego CA | 619-410-1576 |
Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
Birds Eye (Prep Kitchen) | San Diego CA | 619-780-0974 |
One Door North | San Diego CA | 858-232-4220 |
DS Catering Kitchen | Chula Vista CA | 619-703-9321 |
The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar | Oceanside CA | 442-266-2781 |
Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
The Plot | Oceanside CA | 422-266-8200 |
Cody's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0040 |
Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
Swagyu Chop Shop | Imperial Beach CA | 858-822-8377 |
Izakaya Maize/Rabih Sus | La Mesa CA | 619-395-6383 |
Pali Wine Company | San Diego CA | 310-893-0038 |
Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
Juan Tequila | San Diego CA | 520-395-7565 |
Deeply Nourished | San Diego CA | 808-489-7366 |
The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
Mission Bay Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 858-488-0501 |
Kingfisher | San Diego CA | 619-861-8074 |
Monarch | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
Swagyu Chop Shop-PB | San Diego CA | 858-758-0357 |
Public Square Coffee House | La Mesa CA | 619-729-2672 |
Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
Sbicca | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1001 |
Pure Meal Prep SD | San Diego CA | 209-485-4861 |
Buon Appetito | San Diego CA | 619-238-9880 |
Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
Viejas Casino Banquets | Alpine Ca | 619-295-3172 |
C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
Civico 1845 | San Diego CA | 574-210-4025 |
Huntress (Banquet) | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
Fish 101 Cardiff | Cardiff CA | 619-753-7139 |
Town & Country San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-291-7131 |
BFD-Big Front Door | San Diego CA | 619-723-8183 |
Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
Ridgeview Health Center | San Diego CA | 858-293-3950 |
The Smoking Goat | San Diego CA | 858-232-4220 |
The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
Fish 101 | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6221 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
Vineyard Gourmet Catering | Temecula CA | 951-858-1585 |
Plant Based Meals | San Diego CA | 858-255-0590 |
Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
Hotel Del Coronado Serea Restaurant | Coronado CA | 619-435-6611 |
Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-551-5105 |
Q&A Oyster Bar & Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 858-245-3780 |
Zizikis | San Diego CA | 972-567-2396 |
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina | San Diego CA | 619-921-4206 |
Duke's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-1999 |
Comercializadora de Especialdides | Vista Hermosa Ej Chapuitepec B.C. | 646 128 7028 |
Toast Catering | San Diego CA | 858-208-9422 |
Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
Vogue Tavern | Chula Vista CA | 619-371-3322 |
Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
Searcher Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-861-4640 |
Camino Riviera | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
Hilton Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-543-9000 |
Orfila Vineyards & Winery | Oceanside CA | 760-738-6500 |
Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
Cloak and Petal | San Diego CA | 619- 634-3970 |
Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
Giaola | Carlsbad CA | 858-266-9303 |
Seasoned Catering and Events | San Diego CA | 619-246-4909 |
Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
Paradise Point Resort Barefoot | San Diego CA | 858-490-6363 |
Sugar Bear Enterprises | San Diego CA | 925-383-3623 |
The Remy | San Diego CA | 619-886-1358 |
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
Fishery | San Diego CA | 858-272-9985 |
Great Maple Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-255-2282 |
Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5500 x207 |
RoVino Rotisserie + Wine | San Diego CA | 619-972-6286 |
Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 x304 |
Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (7 Mile) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
The Butchery | San Diego CA | 858-345-1524 |
A & M catering | San Diego CA | 206-802-8320 |
Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-7126 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Broccolini® (Aspirations). One

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Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 20 days ago, 5/17/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 27 days ago, 5/10/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 30 days ago, 5/06/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 41 days ago, 4/26/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Jr Organics
Near San Diego, California, United StatesAbout 45 days ago, 4/22/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 55 days ago, 4/12/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 86 days ago, 3/11/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near Santa Monica, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 97 days ago, 3/01/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150 San Diego CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 148 days ago, 1/08/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 174 days ago, 12/14/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock St Suite 150, San Diego, CA 92110 619-295-3172 https://specialtyproduce.com About 295 days ago, 8/14/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]() About 385 days ago, 5/16/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mandoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 430 days ago, 4/02/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Hukama Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesRamona, CA About 435 days ago, 3/27/22 ![]() ![]() About 449 days ago, 3/13/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]() About 477 days ago, 2/13/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]() About 498 days ago, 1/23/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() About 506 days ago, 1/15/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR. Organics ![]() ![]()
Hukama Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesRamona, CA About 512 days ago, 1/09/22 ![]() ![]() About 526 days ago, 12/26/21 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics |