That could be about to change, however, as brighter colours are worked into cauliflowers that hit the shelves at Tesco recently. The supermarket chain has launched 'rainbow' packs that will have springs of purple, orange and emerald green cauliflower to appeal to awkward youngsters who see the veg as boring.

Tesco greens buyer Jeni Gray said: 'These cauliflowers are almost works of art and have a real wow factor that should really create a stir with shoppers and hopefully children at dinnertim'. When food was rationed during and after the Second World War cauliflower became part of the nation's staple meat and two veg diet at school and at home.'

Grown in Lincolnshire the garish varieties of the boring vegetable are intended to combat a dip in demand, after sales of the veg fell 35% over ten years. The move is hoped to help improve cauliflower's popularity after it was overtaken by broccoli.

The coloured cauliflowers are all naturally produced but have been crossed with other types of the brassica family, which includes green cabbage and broccoli.