Leeds man, 26, eats Brussel sprouts for a living, tasting up to 50 a day as a supermarket tester
Is this the most festive job in Britain? Man, 26, who eats BRUSSELS SPROUTS for a living, tasting up to 50 a day as a supermarket tester, says ‘they’re the best thing on the plate at Christmas’
Ben Harrison, from Leeds, goes on taste-testing missions to farms for AsdaThere are over 15 varieties of sprouts, some sweeter and others more bitterBeing a professional sprout-taster requires a distinguishing palate, says BenHaving graduated with a degree in Food and Nutrition, Ben is well qualified
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Some might consider it the worst job in Britain, but one man spends his days eating Brussels sprouts for a living and says he loves it.
Technical manager Ben Harrison, 26, who is employed by supermarket chain Asda claims to love this part of his job and says he can happily eat tens of Brussels sprouts a day, claiming the festive vegetable is ‘the best thing on the plate at Christmas’.
Ben, from Leeds, who tests the festive vegetables before they go on the shelves for customers explained: ‘When we are testing new varieties and visiting our trusted growers, I could eat up to 50 sprouts a day.
‘This is the best part of my job!
‘It’s really important to make sure we give Asda customers the best tasting sprouts and continually improve varieties so more people pick them up and give them a go.
‘Brussels sprouts are the best thing on the plate at Christmas! Just ahead of the pigs in blankets,’ he said.
Ben Harrison, 26, is a taste-tester for Asda and goes on trips to the supermarket’s partnered farms to try out the varieties on offer
On some days, Ben tastes up to 50 Brussels sprouts in a day – a nightmare for some, although he assures us it is the dream job for him
‘The freshest sprouts are a fresh green colour, typically with an oval to round shape dependent on variety.
‘Over the years, the varieties have evolved from a bitter tasting flavour to now having a sweeter flavour.
‘It is important that the sprouts are cooked correctly, as overcooking them can lead to them being more bitter in taste and could create an unappetising aroma – probably why some sprout eaters are put off!’
Ben studied Food and Nutrition at university, leading him to be the perfect taste tester for the supermarket’s Brussels sprouts this Christmas.
He added: ‘We work collaboratively with our trusted farmers who grow over 15 varieties, to ensure we have the best possible sprouts on the shelves for Asda customers this Christmas.
With a degree in Food and Nutrition and a refined palate to boot, Ben is well equipped for his job of scouting out the best sprouts for Asda’s shelves
Ben says Brussels sprouts needn’t be cooked: he recommends grating them raw over salads
Sprouts are one of the staple vegetables served with a traditional Christmas dinner (pictured stock image)
‘It’s difficult to be a sprout tester as spotting the small differences in tastes between different varieties isn’t easy but is essential to give customers the best sprouts.
‘You also need to have a solid knowledge of all the factors that affect harvests.
‘Sprouts are a great addition to the Christmas meal; I particularly enjoy sprouts boiled then cooked in some oil with garlic and bacon.
‘They’re totally versatile though, so you don’t just have to save them for Christmas dinner.
‘You can also use sprouts in other recipes, cook them, and grate the sprouts into a fresh salad or whole roast with garlic and herbs.
‘There are some amazing sprout products in Asda this year that I’m sure will convert anyone over to loving sprouts.
‘You can of course grab your plain sprouts if you have your own recipe to work with, plus the trimmed version helps to cut down on prep time when it comes to the big day.’
