Quinoa contains a bitter tasting outer coating which contains saponins. Essentially these saponins serve as a defense mechanism to the plant as it’s growing – it keeps predators from eating the seeds. If left untreated, quinoa would taste terrible.
Another popular question is “Does quinoa have a taste of its own?”.
On its own, quinoa has an inconspicuous, mild flavor. It has an earthy presence like brown rice, a nutty undertone, and a satisfactory texture. Even when cooked quinoa is slightly crunchy, yet a mouthful of it is fluffy and smooth. Overcooking quinoa produces a mushy, tasteless product that is not appealing to eat.
Quinoa, although commonly perceived as a grain, is actually a seed from a plant native to Peru. It’s been linked to several health benefits because it contains high amounts of antioxidants like flavonoids and minerals like magnesium, as well as protein and fiber.. Quinoa is also gluten-free, so it’s an ideal source of nutrition for those with Celiac or gluten-intolerance.
So as an evolutionary defense against being eaten by birds, quinoa grows with a natural coating of a substance called saponin. Saponin has a bitter flavor which discourages birds from eating it. Unfortunately, it will also discourage you from eating it, unless you do something about it.
Why does my quinoa taste bitter?
If your quinoa still tastes bitter, there is likely still some saponin left on the quinoa. A small amount of saponin will produce enough bitterness to affect a whole bag. Happily, the solution to preventing bitter quinoa is very simple.
Happily, the solution to preventing bitter quinoa is very simple. All you need to do is rinse your uncooked quinoa in cold running water for a minute or so until the water runs clear. Given the small size of the quinoa, a mesh strainer works much better than a colander, because the quinoa will not get rinsed out of the holes.
What does saponin taste like and what does it do?
Saponin has a bitter flavor which discourages birds from eating it. Unfortunately, it will also discourage you from eating it, unless you do something about it. Quinoa is a tall grass that flowers, goes to seed, and then, once the leaves turn from green to yellow, it is harvested.