What do microgreens taste like?

Microgreen flavor reflects the mature plant in concentrated form: sunflower is nutty and slightly sweet, radish is bold and spicy, pea shoots are sweet and grassy, and shiso is herbal with anise and mint undertones.

What do microgreens taste like?

Which microgreens are mildest?

Sunflower, pea shoots, and broccoli microgreens have mild, approachable flavors that work in most dishes without overpowering other ingredients.

Which microgreens are spiciest?

Rambo radish and wasabi mustard microgreens deliver the most intense heat, with a horseradish-like bite that adds bold contrast to rich or fatty dishes.

Mild and approachable varieties

Sunflower, pea shoots, and broccoli are the most broadly approachable microgreens. They blend easily into salads, smoothies, and sandwiches without overpowering other flavors. These are the best starting point for customers new to microgreens.

Bold and spicy varieties

Rambo radish and wasabi mustard deliver the most heat — a horseradish-like bite that adds contrast to fatty proteins, tacos, and composed dishes. These varieties are favored by chefs who want bold flavor impact in small portions. See which microgreens chefs use most.

Specialty and chef-focused varieties

Shiso, amaranth, nasturtium, and basil varieties are used primarily for presentation and fine-dining applications. Shiso has herbal anise and mint notes. Amaranth provides dramatic deep burgundy color. Nasturtium brings mild pepper flavor with visual impact. These are available as 5×5 specialty trays. Learn more about edible flowers and their uses.

Full flavor reference chart

Arugula: Strong pepper flavor; Peppery
Amaranth: Earthy flavor, similar to beets; Earthy
Borage: Cucumber flavor; Mild
Buckwheat: Sour with a hint of bitterness; Earthy
Cilantro: Flowery, light with flavor; Mild
Celery: Similar to mature plant, but lighter; Mild
Chrysanthemum: Carrot-like flavor, light-flowery; Mild
Clover: Slightly sweet and grassy; Mild
Cress: Peppery, interesting texture; Peppery
Fennel: Licorice flavor; Mild
Fenugreek: Sweet nutty flavor; Nutty
Leek: Onion-like flavor; Mild
Marigold: Spicy with notes of citrus; Spicy
Mustard: Mild, spicy mustard flavor — wasabi mustard tastes just like wasabi.; Spicy
Rambo Radish: Horseradish flavor; Spicy
Nasturtium: Mild peppery flavor; Peppery
Popcorn: Super sweet, can be paired with desserts; Sweet
Orach: Spinach-like, bitter, earthy; Earthy
Sunflower: Nutty, crunchy texture; Nutty
Red-Veined Sorrel: Sour, lemon, acid; Mild
Water Pepper: Extreme peppery flavor, use sparingly; Peppery
Shiso: Herbal, anise, and mint — Japanese cuisine staple; Mild
Pea Shoots: Sweet, fresh, grassy — similar to sugar snap peas; Sweet
Broccoli: Mild earthy brassica flavor; Mild