Are you ready to take your meals to the next level? If your answer is yes, then microgreens are the answer. These miniature morsels have been around since the 1980s, with chefs looking for new ways to please customers in San Francisco. Ever since, the industry has been sprouting new microgreens as different vegetable greens were tested. Microgreens are harvested just after the cotyledon leaves have developed and they are packed with nutrients as well as surprisingly potent flavours.
My One True Leaf
When it comes to plants, we are pretty serious about categorising them. A microgreen isn’t a “baby green” or a plant that is harvested early. Instead we harvest the plants based on the development of the cotyledon leaves. Cotyledon or “seed leaf” is part of the embryo within a plant’s seed. The cotyledon helps with initial photosynthesis or acts as the food store for a plant until the true leaves grow. These are the first leaves to appear in a germinating seed, and they disappear as a plant matures. Botanists classify flowering plants by the number of cotyledons present when a seed germinates, calling them monocots or dicots!
By the time the cotyledons are fully developed, most microgreens will have their very first set of true leaves forming, and we know it is time to harvest. Getting this timing right makes sure we have the tastiest, most nutritious plants possible.
Small with Big Plant Energy
Microgreens add several dimensions to your meals. They are vibrantly coloured, adding to the look of a dish. Whether used as a garnish or the main ingredient of a meal, your plate is going to look good with these little veggies brightening things up. Microgreens have a variety of textures to give you some contrast to chew on, and the flavours really are intense. Be it peppery, spicy, sweet, earthy, grassy or nutty, you can add a new note to your meal, or take your tastebuds on a journey.
The best part? These little friends of ours are absolutely brimming with nutrients. Compared to their fully grown counterparts, microgreens have five times more vitamins and carotenoids, with some going all out with 40 times more nutrients in their tiny leaves. If you want to add vitamins C, E, and K, lutein and beta-carotene to your diet, then microgreens are a great addition to your pantry.
Microgreens may have started their existence as expensive additions to fine dining, but you don’t need to break the bank or go to a fancy restaurant to enjoy them. We have a cornucopia of them growing in our Mighty Grow Machines, ready to head to your home.
Our microgreens include red amaranth, rocket, basil, beetroot, carrots, Chinese cabbage, coriander, cress, kohlrabi, mustards, parsley, peas, Swiss chards, sunflowers, tatsoi, wheatgrass, and popcorn. You can see their taste profiles over here [link to flavour profiles] or order some here [link to mighty microgreens sale].