




Broccolini® (Aspirations)
Inventory, 18 ct : 116.69
This item was last sold on : 02/06/23
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.
Q&A Oyster Bar & Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 858-245-3780 |
Brigantine Poway | Poway CA | 858-486-3066 |
Fish 101 | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6221 |
Palmys | San Diego CA | 858-886-7111 |
Monarch | Del Mar CA | 619-308-6500 |
Open Gym-White Rice Bodega | San Diego CA | 619-289-9182 |
Rovino The Foodery | San Diego CA | 619-204-3666 |
Food by Chef Ty | Vista CA | 323-506-1890 |
Brigantine Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1166 |
The Switchboard Restaurant and Bar | Oceanside CA | 442-266-2781 |
Blind Lady | San Diego CA | 619-381-4475 |
Fish 101 Cardiff | Cardiff CA | 619-753-7139 |
Marriott Marquis North Tower | San Diego CA | 619-234-1500 |
Ulivo | San Diego CA | 619-962-7345 |
Hilton Garden Inn - Homewood Suites San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-696-6300 |
Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-551-5105 |
Culinary Concepts | San Diego CA | 858-518-0148 |
The Guild Bar | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Jujus Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-471-5342 |
The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
Swagyu Chop Shop | Imperial Beach CA | 858-822-8377 |
Madam Bonnies | San Diego CA | 619-432-1383 |
Juan Tequila | San Diego CA | 520-395-7565 |
Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
Bang Bang 2021 | San Diego CA | 619-382-8938 |
Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
Saiko Sushi-North Park | San Diego CA | 619-886-6656 |
Crust Pizzeria Solana Beach | Solana Beach CA | 858-212-8751 |
Hilton Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-5200 x4234 |
Brigantine Pt Loma | San Diego CA | 619-224-2871 |
DS Catering Kitchen | Chula Vista CA | 619-703-9321 |
The Bier Garden | Encinitas CA | 760-632-2437 |
Pacifica Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-792-0505 |
Uprising Pizza | El Cajon CA | 619-928-3286 |
Lucky Bolt | San Diego CA | 662-832-3638 |
Candor | La Jolla CA | 858-581-2205 |
Nick & G's Restaurant | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-771-1871 |
Sbicca | Del Mar CA | 858-481-1001 |
Marriott Courtyard - Broadway | San Diego CA | 619-446-3008 |
Park 101 | Carlsbad CA | 760-434-2217 |
La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
La Clochette Du Coin-Pacific Beach | San Diego CA | 619-402-7911 |
US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Smoking Gun | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 |
Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
Alila Marea Beach Resort (Banquets) | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters | La Jolla CA | 858-228-5655 |
Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
Mission Bay Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 858-488-0501 |
Davanti Enoteca India St. | San Diego CA | 619-237-9606 |
The Santaluz Club Inc - Banquet | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
Portside Pier (Brigantine) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
Brigantine Escondido | Escondido CA | 760-743-4718 |
Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
264 Fresco (Kitchen) | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
Piatti | San Diego CA | 858-454-1589 |
The Farm Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-5585 |
Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering | San Diego CA | 619-838-8268 |
The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
Black Raill Kitchen + Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
J & Tonys | San Diego CA | 855-634-7664 |
Embassy Suites Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-239-2400 ext 700 |
US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Brigantine Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-4166 |
Nolita Hall | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
Brigantine Imperial Beach | Imperial Beach CA | 619-591-1350 |
Trust Restaurant | San Diego CA | 609-780-7572 |
The Butchery | San Diego CA | 858-345-1524 |
PFC Fitness Camp | Carlsbad CA | 888-488-8936 |
Et Voilà! French Bistro | San Diego CA | 858-610-8784 |
The Wild Thyme Company | San Diego CA | 858-527-0226 |
Sycuan Casino - Bull & Bourbon | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
Estancia Adobe | San Diego CA | 858-550-1000 |
Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
The Plot | Oceanside CA | 422-266-8200 |
Morgan Run Resort and Club | Rancho Sante Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
The Lab Restaurant | Oceanside CA | 619-861-8299 |
Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5500 x207 |
Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
Olivewood Gardens -Donation | National City CA | 619-434-4281 |
Vista Valley | Vista CA | 760-758-2800 |
Salt & Whiskey 2023 | San Diego CA | 619-214-9519 |
Alila Marea (VAGA Restaurant) | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
HiroNori Ramen | San Diego CA | 619-446-9876 |
BFD-Big Front Door | San Diego CA | 619-723-8183 |
KI's | Encinitas CA | 760-586-8289 |
Louisiana Purchase | San Diego CA | 619-255-8278 |
JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
The Tavern | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
Seasoned Catering and Events | San Diego CA | 619-246-4909 |
Catamaran | San Diego CA | 858-488-1081 |
Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
Rubicon Deli India Street | San Diego CA | 619-200-4201 |
Herb & Wood | San Diego CA | 520-205-1288 |
Zizikis | San Diego CA | 972-567-2396 |
Green Dragon Tavern & Museum | Carlsbad CA | 760-797-5579 |
The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
Reata Glen | Ladera Ranch CA | 949-545-2250 |
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-930-7063 |
Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
Giaola | Carlsbad CA | 858-266-9303 |
Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
Mabel's Gone Fishing | San Diego CA | 619-228-9851 |
Don Pietro | San Diego CA | 619-255-7205 |
Beach Plum Kitchen | Carlsbad CA | 760-688-8682 |
Farmers Bottega | San Diego CA | 619-306-8963 |
La Costa Glen South | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
Waverly | Cardiff CA | 619-244-0416 |
Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
Paradisaea Restaurant | La Jolla CA | 732-915-6669 |
Swagyu Chop Shop-PB | San Diego CA | 858-758-0357 |
Revolution Roasters | Oceanside CA | 760-330-6827 |
Kairoa Brewing Company | San Diego CA | 858-735-0051 |
Izakaya Maize/Rabih Sus | La Mesa CA | 619-395-6383 |
The Corner Drafthouse | San Diego CA | 619-255-2631 |
Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
Viewpoint Brewing Co. | Del Mar CA | 858-205-9835 |
Pali Wine Company | San Diego CA | 310-893-0038 |
Vineyard Gourmet Catering | Temecula CA | 951-858-1585 |
Il Sogno Italiano | San Diego CA | 619-380-2652 |
Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
Bekker's Catering | San Diego CA | 619-287-9027 |
Park Hyatt Aviara | Carlsbad CA | 760-448-1234 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Madison | San Diego CA | 619-822-3465 |
Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
Javier Plascencia | Bonita CA | 619-295-3172 |
Cucina Enoteca | Del Mar CA | 619-239-2222 |
Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
Cucina Sorella | San Diego CA | 858-232-7808 |
Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina | San Diego CA | 619-921-4206 |
Starlite Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-358-9766 |
The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
Rosemary Trattoria | Coronado CA | 619-669-8435 |
Hilton Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-543-9000 |
Valley View Casino & Hotel (Black&Blue) | Valley Center CA | 760-291-5500 |
Cloak and Petal | San Diego CA | 619-634-3970 |
Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
Under Belly-Little Italy Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-269-4626 |
Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
Hotel Indigo | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
Oyster and Pearl Bar Restaurant | La Mesa CA | 619-303-8118 |
Sepulveda Meats & Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-501-1878 |
Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
Sheraton Carlsbad (7 Mile) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
Solare Ristorante Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-270-9670 |
Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
Baja Cavi | Lomas de Valle Verde 22810 | 619-295-3172 |
La Costa Glen North | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1436 |
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens | Escondido CA | 915-861-2297 |
Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 x304 |
Villa Capri Poway | Poway CA | 858-391-9400 |
Bahia Resort Hotel | San Diego CA | 858-488-0551 |
Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
Stone Brewing-Liberty Station | San Diego CA | 619-269-2100 |
San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 619-302-3682 |
Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
Camino Riviera | San Diego CA | 619-685-3881 |
Bishop School | San Diego CA | 858-459-4021 |
Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
The Pearl Hotel | San Diego CA | 877-732-7573 |
Barbusa | San Diego CA | 619-297-6333 |
Toast Catering | San Diego CA | 858-208-9422 |
Beach Terrance Inn | Carlsbad CA | 760-729-5951 |
Born & Raised | San Diego CA | 619-944-1631 |
Primal Balance Nutrition LLC | San Marcos CA | 760-822-2904 |
Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
Zeca Trading Co. | San Diego CA | 619-410-1576 |
Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
The Guild Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-573-0289 |
Humphery's | San Diego CA | 619-224-3577 |
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
Oscars Brewing Company | Temecula CA | 619-695-2422 |
Manhattan of La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-459-0700 |
Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
Fresco Cocina | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
Daily Chew Catering | San Diego CA | 619-879-7979 |
Chefs SD | San Diego CA | 619-800-3860 |
Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
Duke's La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-1999 |
University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
Dolce Pane & Vino | Del Mar CA | 858-832-1518 |
Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
Cesarina | San Diego CA | 619-226-6222 |
Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Broccolini® (Aspirations). One

Recently Shared
People have shared Broccolini® (Aspirations) using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Sharing allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
![]() ![]()
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, 1/08/23 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 55 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 177 days ago, 8/14/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]() About 267 days ago, 5/16/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mandoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Mendoza Family Farms
Near Santa Monica, California, United StatesAbout 311 days ago, 4/02/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Mendoza Family Farms ![]() ![]()
Hukama Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesRamona, CA About 317 days ago, 3/27/22 ![]() ![]() About 331 days ago, 3/13/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]() About 359 days ago, 2/13/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]() About 380 days ago, 1/23/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() About 388 days ago, 1/15/22 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR. Organics ![]() ![]()
Hukama Produce
Near San Diego, California, United StatesRamona, CA About 394 days ago, 1/09/22 ![]() ![]() About 408 days ago, 12/26/21 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from JR Organics ![]() ![]() About 663 days ago, 4/15/21 Sharer's comments : Broccolini from Jr Organics! ![]() ![]() About 697 days ago, 3/12/21 Sharer's comments : Broccolini From Jr Organics ![]() ![]()
Specialty Produce
Near San Diego, California, United States1929 Hancock Street San Diego, CA 92110 619-295-3172 About 714 days ago, 2/23/21 |