The little gem called Belgium

What do you know about Belgium? This little country is much more than just the home of tasty chocolates, waffles and strong beer. Belgium is the home of the European union and has possibly the most confusing system of government, ever. Let us tell you some interesting facts about Belgium.

Belgium has 3 official languages. In the North of Belgium they speak Flemish, in the south they mostly speak French and some few areas speak German. The capital of Belgium, Brussels, is kind of a middle way between Flemish and French. In Brussels the street signs and products in the grocery store does usually have text on both languages.

One of the top unknown facts about Belgium is that this is the country where French Fries where invented. Foreign soldiers saw the French-Belgians eat this popular dish and named is French Fries. In Belgium, on the other hand, the potato strips are called Frites and the secret is to fry them in beef fat instead of oil to give them a distinctive flavour. And don't forget, you eat them with mayo!

Image courtesy of Flickr user AMANITO

If you are a beer geek or even know a little bit more than the average person about beer, you have heard of Belgium beer and the famous Trappist Beers. There are hundreds of beer types in Belgium and even 6 out of the 7 Trappist beers left in the world are still made here. Brussels is known to be the only area in the world where a phenomenon called "Spontaneous fermentation" occurs. Because yeast and bacterias occur naturally in the air, this is the home of the unique seasonal wild yeast of the Zenne River valley. This yeast is used for the regional Lambic style beer, which has a dry, vinous, and cidery flavour, usually with a sour aftertaste.

If you go to Belgium with the hope of gorging in Brussels sprouts, then you will probably be disappointed. The largest producers of Brussels sprouts in Europe are actually The Netherlands!