"I'm afraid those wild greens will be too bitter!" I hear this sort of comment a lot! Here are 3 ways to figure out whether a wild plant or an edible garden weed might be too bitter for you -- or right up your alley!
What Makes Wild Plants Bitter?
Some folks love hot peppers - the hotter the better - while other folks want nothing to do with any heat. The same is true for bitter foods. Some folks are really concerned that a new food might be too bitter. And other folks seek out those bitter flavors. The question comes up most often about wild greens, but it's an issue for some flowers and roots, too.
@karenb54 and I had a discussion awhile ago, and she got me thinking! We don't often come across bitter vegetables or fruits in the grocery store or even in the garden. So it can be difficult to talk about how bitter wild plants may be.
Several things affect how bitter wild plants may be -- the kind of plant, the conditions they are growing in, how mature they are, and how they are prepared to eat. In some cases, the bitter flavor can be a warning that the plant has high levels of compounds that we shouldn't eat. But that's not always the case. Some of the bitter compounds are just fine for us to eat! That's one reason it's good to learn the details of each plant, rather than look for general rules to apply to all plants.
Three Ways of Comparing Bitterness
I've been trying to find ways for people to talk about their preferences for bitter foods, so it's more clear whether they might like a specific wild food or not. Here are three ways I've come up with. If you have others, please let me know!
1. Chocolate
Do you prefer Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate? If you prefer Milk Chocolate, you probably will prefer greens that are not bitter at all. But if you like really Dark Chocolate, like the kinds that have 70 or 80% cocoa, you may enjoy wild greens or other plants that are at least somewhat bitter.
2. Coffee
Do you dislike coffee completely, because it's too bitter? Do you use a lot of milk or cream, or sugar, as a way to mask those bitter coffee flavors? Or do you like your coffee dark and black? If it's the latter, then mature greens or more bitter greens may be your preference. If coffee is too bitter for you, then you will probably prefer non-bitter greens.
3. Beer
There are so many styles and flavors of beer. Wheat beers, porters, and many mainstream mass-market beers don't have bitter flavors. Other beers, like IPAs or India Pale Ale style beers, emphasize hops and bitter flavors. If you prefer wheat beer or porters, you most likely will prefer your wild greens to be not bitter. But if you seek out the IPAs, you will like the more bitter greens.
Some beer labels even list the IBU, or International Bitterness Unit, a measure of a beer's bitterness levels. If you enjoy beer with triple-digit IBUs, then you will likely enjoy bitter greens.
What If I Don't Like Bitter Flavors?
Even if you don't like bitter food, there are still wild plants that you may like. For example, there are so many kinds of wild greens that aren't bitter at all, like lambs quarter (Chenopodium alba) and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus reflexus). Some ways of preparing wild plants can minimize their bitterness, like blanching, making creamed greens, or cooking with bacon!
And just because you don't like more bitter foods now, doesn't mean you won't like them later. I know plenty of people that started out not liking bitter wild greens, but now even prefer those kinds of greens! I have grown to like a good kick of bitterness. If you like bitter flavors, stay tuned. I've got some posts about cooking with hop cones that you will like! :D
What Do You Think?
- Have any wild greens or other wild plants been too bitter for you to enjoy?
- Do you like bitter foods or do you want nothing to do with them?
- What kinds of chocolate, coffee, or beer do you prefer?
- Do you know any other ways of comparing bitterness in foods?
I write about foraging because I believe that we can all have lives that are richer, more secure, more grounded, and more interesting by getting to know the plants and the land around us – in our yards, our parks, and our wilderness.
I would like Steemit to be the premier site for Foraging on the Internet! If you have any thoughts about foraging, or experiences to share, write a post and be sure to use the Foraging tag. And check out the @foraging-trail to see curated quality posts about foraging. Happy Foraging!
** Haphazard Homestead **
