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Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
herbalgerbals
()
Date: April 10, 2009 02:59AM I eat romain lettuce Hearts.
Now, the green leafs arent bitter. But when I get down to the heart, where the stem seems to be cut from the soil, I get a very strong bitter taste. Is this normal? or is this from chemicals/pestisides used? The lettuse I buy is Trader Joes Les Salades du Midi "romaine Hearts" I just now noticed it says wash before using, but I have not been doing that.. Should I be concerned? Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
loeve
()
Date: April 10, 2009 11:16AM ..some lettuce has a bitter substance at the base called lactucarium. It's the milky substance at the base of thick stalks. It is normal but not a useful part of the plant, imo.
"...Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) and most other varieties, including common head lettuce (Sativa capita), contain lactucarium, a bitter alkaloid..." Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
debbietook
()
Date: April 10, 2009 01:53PM Yes, the bit near the stalk does taste bitter. To me, that's just saying to us 'don't eat that bit'. In the same way carrot tops don't taste nice either. Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
herbalgerbals
()
Date: April 10, 2009 06:33PM Oh.. I see.
I eat it on purpose cus of the bitter taste, I though it was healthier and had more antioxidant in it becuase of the that.. Should I avoid it then? Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
debbietook
()
Date: April 10, 2009 08:56PM Well, I reckon so, but that's because in general I subscribe to the Natural Hygiene policy of not eating that which doesn't taste good. Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
loeve
()
Date: April 11, 2009 12:51PM My reasoning is that the bitter milky substance is lactucarium (lettuce opium), a weak chemical in the concentrations normally eaten, but raw foodists sometimes eat large amounts. Someone might eat 2 or more bags of romain hearts day after day, which leads to the question, how much is too much lettuce opium?
'Giveittomeraw' has a thread on lettuce opium. [www.giveittomeraw.com] Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2009 12:53PM by loeve. Re: Is lettuce suppose to be bitter?
Posted by:
loeve
()
Date: April 12, 2009 01:09PM ..wild lettuce is more known for lettuce opium..
"Wild Lettuce commonly refers to the more bitter cousins of common garden lettuce. This group of plants is used in everything from sleep tonics to soap to teas. The three main species of this group are Lactuca Virosa, Lactuca Canadennis, and Lactuca Serriola. They have been used in herbal medicine throughout history mainly as a sleep aid." [www.wildlettuce.com] ..just might have to try some.. Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
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