Lexikon

Bitters

Bitter substances have a high health value

Plants try to protect themselves from predators with bitter substances. Nowadays, many bitter-tasting plants (for example endives or chicory) are “re-bred”; they no longer taste as bitter as they did a few decades ago. This is fatal, because our sense of taste is hardly accustomed to the bitter taste. But bitter substances have a high health value. They trigger increased secretion of saliva and digestive juices from the bile, liver and pancreas via the taste receptors at the base of the tongue. They thus stimulate the appetite and aid digestion. Some bitter substances also have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal effects