The bitter flavor is digestive magic. When something bitter hits your mouth, it sends a signal that primes your GI tract for action. Bitter foods such as dark cruciferous greens are incredibly nutritious and contain a wide variety of plant-based chemicals that have significant health benefits.

Versailles Farms is a local grower of the cruciferous Brassica family… cabbage, kale, radishes, arugula, broccoli rabe, dandelion greens, endive, rapini, tatsoi, Swiss chard, mizuna, turnip greens and beet greens.

Dark cruciferous greens can moderate both hunger and blood sugar, lower risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, promote better gut, eye and liver health. Bitter greens are a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins A, C and K, and minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium, filled with folate and fiber. They’ll balance your taste buds and reduce cravings and aid in weight loss. Think of bitters as toning our digestive system.

Bitter herbs have long been used in traditional medicine to support healthy blood sugar levels. The ancient European tradition of “digestive” bitters never caught on in America, nor do Americans embrace the Asian ideal of including a bitter food as part of every meal. Waking up our bitter taste receptors can help support healthy digestion and regulate other eating-related issues and functions.

Bitterness is the most sensitive of the tastes, and many perceive it as sharp, or disagreeable. Our bitter taste receptors essentially go unused. To tame bitterness, sauté or blanch with sea salt and high quality oil. Learn to love that minerally green bitterness for its own sake.

Nature provides Versailles Farms with these miracle plants in abundance during spring! They have a bold flavor that may take some getting used to, but the health benefits are definitely worth the effort! Look for these greens in their season.

Why is Bitter Better