Bitter: the forgotten taste

Bitter. Not exactly the taste most people spontaneously reach for. And yet … it is precisely this bitterness that your body often needs. In our modern diet, bitter has almost disappeared. Sweet, salt and fat dominate, while bitter substances have less and less of a place at the table. In this blog, you’ll discover why bitter is so much more than a flavor and how you can easily and naturally add it back into your day.

What are bitter substances anyway?

Bitters are natural, plant compounds with a bitter taste. In nature, they protect plants from predation. In our bodies, they have the opposite effect: they activate and stimulate.

As soon as your tongue tastes bitter, a signal goes to your nervous system. That triggers digestion: saliva, stomach acid, bile and enzymes are produced. Your body gets into the right state to absorb and process food properly.

Important: bitters only really work when they hit your taste buds. Therefore, they are most effective via a tea or tincture; capsules miss this contact moment, and thus often do little.

The power of bitter for your health

Your liver: natural support & detox

The liver is your great filter. It purifies, regulates your fat metabolism and helps with hormonal balance. Bitter plants support this function in a gentle but effective way.

• Dandelion leaf: promotes the elimination of waste products and is mildly diuretic.
• Milk thistle seed: protects liver cells and supports regeneration.
• Olive leaf: rich in antioxidants, aids in fat metabolism and defense.

Your digestion: back to natural balance

Healthy digestion begins in the mouth. Bitters signal your body to get active, from saliva production to bile secretion.

• Artichoke leaf: stimulates bile flow and helps with feeling heavy.
• Yarrow: works antispasmodic and relieves flatulence.
• Gentian root: extremely bitter, classically appetizing.
• Absinthe wormwood: powerfully purifying, supports sluggish digestion.
• Chamomile: mildly bitter and soothing to the stomach and intestines.

Your heart: through your digestion to inner peace

A well-functioning digestive system and a healthy liver put less strain on your heart. But in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the effect of bitter goes even further.

Bitter herbs are used there to calm excessive “heat” or “heart fire,” think restlessness, insomnia or emotional irritability. Bitter helps lower energy, release tension and make more room for calm.

Some of our bitter herbs

These herbs are rich in bitters and each is powerful in its simplicity:

• Dandelion
• Artichoke leaf
• Milk thistle seed
• Yarrow
• Absinthe wormwood
• Gentian root
• Olive Leaf
• Chamomile
• Chicory root

Bitter in your cup

How do you make bitter weather a natural part of your day?
A few simple ways:

• Drink a bitter tea 15 minutes before or after a meal
• Use a tincture with herbs such as artichoke or dandelion
• Create your own herbal blend with 2 or 3 bitter plants that suit you

Bitter takes some getting used to, but many people soon notice a difference. Your taste adjusts and so does your body.