To understand microgreens we must look at
the biology of a young plant.

That is where this story begins.

What are microgreens?

  • No sprouts
  • No mini-vegetables

Microgreens are young plants harvested shortly after germination, once the first leaves have developed.

It is a short, biologically active phase in which the plant grows, develops, and protects itself.

And it is precisely this phase that makes microgreens scientifically interesting.

The difference? The growth stage at which the plant is harvested.

After a few days

Sprouts

Seed that germinates briefly, usually in water. You eat the seed, the sprout, and the rootlet.

After about 1 to 3 weeks

Microgreens

The young plant grows with light on a nutrient medium. Harvested above the root, when the first cotyledons and true leaves develop.

After weeks to months

Mature plant

The plant continues to grow, forms more leaves, and develops toward its adult stage.

Where does the seed come from?

'Microgreen seed' is not a separate type of seed. Microgreen describes when we harvest the plant, not which seed we plant.

View the cycle of

  1. Phase 1

    Seed

    A broccoli seed. Just a regular seed, not a special microgreen seed.

  2. Phase 2, our harvest moment

    Broccoli microgreens

    The first leaves have opened. We are harvesting here for the broccoli shot.

  3. Phase 3

    Mature plant

    If you leave it, it will grow into a broccoli plant.

  4. Phase 4

    New seed

    The plant flowers and sets seed. The cycle begins again.

  1. Phase 1

    Seed

    A pea. The same kind you plant in the vegetable garden.

  2. Phase 2, our harvest moment

    Pea shoot

    A young sprout with its first leaves. This is where we harvest for the pea shoot.

  3. Phase 3

    Mature plant

    If you leave it, it will become a climbing pea plant with pods.

  4. Phase 4

    New seed

    The pods ripen into new peas. The cycle begins again.

  1. Phase 1

    Seed

    A grain of wheat. The same grain as in the field.

  2. Phase 2, our harvest moment

    Wheatgrass

    Young wheat grass shoots. We harvest these for the wheatgrass shot.

  3. Phase 3

    Mature plant

    If you leave it standing, it will become a wheat plant with ears.

  4. Phase 4

    New seed

    The ears ripen into new grains of wheat. The cycle begins again.

Why everyone is suddenly talking about microgreens

  • Sulforaphane
  • Broccoli sprouts
  • Wheatgrass
  • Functional foods

But as far as we are concerned, popular does not yet mean proven.

Microgreens have since grown into a global superfood. Unlike in Europe, this superfood has been a popular concept in Australia, Japan, and the US for much longer.

That is why we are looking at the plant behind the trend:

  • Which substances does it contain?
  • What happens to it in the body?
  • And above all: what does research actually show?

No health claims, as they can be deployed in a clever way for marketing purposes.

Small in size. Interesting in content.

Depending on the plant, microgreens can naturally contain various nutrients and bioactive plant compounds.

Glucosinolates

Glucosinolates

Bioactive plant compounds, including those in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids

Plant pigments, such as beta-carotene and lutein.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols

A large group of plant substances, including flavonoids.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll

The chlorophyll that the plant needs to convert light into energy.

Vitamins

Vitamins

Naturally present, such as vitamins C, E and K.

Minerals

Minerals

Such as potassium, calcium, and iron, depending on the plant and cultivation.

Which substances are present, and in what quantities, varies greatly per plant, cultivation method and growth stage. That is why we do not speak of microgreens as if they were a single ingredient.

Take broccoli.

Broccoli microgreens naturally contain glucoraphanin. A mouthful, but an interesting one.

What do we actually know about that? Let's dive into the science.

Glucoraphanin

Naturally present in broccoli microgreens.

If plant cells are damaged, for instance by chewing, the enzyme myrosinase converts it into

Sulforaphane

A bioactive plant compound that is currently the subject of much scientific research.

Check out the broccoli shot What does research say?

More is not always better.

  • “40x more nutrients”
  • “detox”
  • “superfood”

You encounter quite a few big promises when you Google microgreens. We are big proponents of everything a plant has to offer naturally, but transparency remains important to us. Not everything on the market is the same.

The composition of a plant is influenced by:

  • type
  • species
  • cultivation conditions
  • harvest time
  • processing

The final nutrient profile therefore depends heavily on the supplier, grower, processor, and other links in the chain. That is why we prefer nuance over the largest number.

We prefer to show what research says.

On our research page, you will find the studies behind our plants, independent research with sources and explanations, and other relevant articles.

View the evidence library To the shots