why does my borage taste like fish??

Vespertino · May 18, 2013

Got my first borage flower today and promptly ate it. I was under the impression it was supposed to taste like cucumber which is why I chose to grow it. The flavor was anything but... it had an odd sardine flavor, it was actually quite disgusting even though I like sardines. I haven't fed the plant or sprayed it with anything recently.

What gives? Has anyone else had this experience with borage? Luckily it was easy to grow but as I'm not finding it delicious I'm wondering if its worthy of the space its taking up on my limited apartment patio.

habitat_gardener · May 19, 2013

I've been growing borage for several years and eat the flowers frequently. They always have a pleasant refreshing taste -- especially if I get the tiny bit of nectar -- but "cucumber" is a stretch.

I'd guess your planting medium or the container may be imparting that bad flavor.

Redbaron · May 19, 2013

Borage leaves taste like cucumber, the flowers a pleasant I don't know, "flowery" taste.

Fish? That's a new one on me.

Alfredo · May 19, 2013

That's interesting...like fish? I've always grown it for it's benefit to the soil and other plants, as it provides potassium, calcium and other minerals, not to mention how much Bees love Borage. You mentioned you have a limited apartment patio, but I would maybe consider at least keeping one Borage plant for the other benefits to the soil/plants it has, as I do know how big and unruly they get by the end of the season.

~Alfredo

RayR · May 19, 2013

If you want a cucumber-like taste, grow Salad Burnet. The young leaves are tasty in a salad.

tlintx · May 19, 2013

Might just be the way you taste them. Stevia, for example, tastes bitter to me. And lemons taste sweet -- not sugary sweet, but fruity sweet.

Tl

Vespertino · May 20, 2013

Well I think I figured it out, I can rule out the soil being the problem: I'm growing lots of other herbs in the same stuff and those taste just fine with no hint of fish. I looked borage up regarding nutritional value and noticed they're known to have a high amount of GLA. The same stuff is in flax seed oil, which I've had in the past and hated due to the fishy taste. I guess GLA and my taste buds just don't like each other

I'll be on the lookout for salad burnet seeds. In the meantime I'll keep the borage for the flowers and hope they attract bees.

May 18, 2013	#1
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	why does my borage taste like fish?? Got my first borage flower today and promptly ate it. I was under the impression it was supposed to taste like cucumber which is why I chose to grow it. The flavor was anything but... it had an odd sardine flavor, it was actually quite disgusting even though I like sardines. I haven't fed the plant or sprayed it with anything recently. What gives? Has anyone else had this experience with borage? Luckily it was easy to grow but as I'm not finding it delicious I'm wondering if its worthy of the space its taking up on my limited apartment patio.

May 19, 2013	#3
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Borage leaves taste like cucumber, the flowers a pleasant I don't know, "flowery" taste. Fish? That's a new one on me. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

May 19, 2013	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I've been growing borage for several years and eat the flowers frequently. They always have a pleasant refreshing taste -- especially if I get the tiny bit of nectar -- but "cucumber" is a stretch. I'd guess your planting medium or the container may be imparting that bad flavor.

May 19, 2013	#4
Alfredo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 554	That's interesting...like fish? I've always grown it for it's benefit to the soil and other plants, as it provides potassium, calcium and other minerals, not to mention how much Bees love Borage. You mentioned you have a limited apartment patio, but I would maybe consider at least keeping one Borage plant for the other benefits to the soil/plants it has, as I do know how big and unruly they get by the end of the season. ~Alfredo

May 19, 2013	#5
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	If you want a cucumber-like taste, grow Salad Burnet. The young leaves are tasty in a salad.

May 19, 2013	#6
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	Might just be the way you taste them. Stevia, for example, tastes bitter to me. And lemons taste sweet -- not sugary sweet, but fruity sweet. Tl

May 20, 2013	#7
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Well I think I figured it out, I can rule out the soil being the problem: I'm growing lots of other herbs in the same stuff and those taste just fine with no hint of fish. I looked borage up regarding nutritional value and noticed they're known to have a high amount of GLA. The same stuff is in flax seed oil, which I've had in the past and hated due to the fishy taste. I guess GLA and my taste buds just don't like each other I'll be on the lookout for salad burnet seeds. In the meantime I'll keep the borage for the flowers and hope they attract bees.