Vegetable
Medicago sativa
A tier
Medicago sativa is the botanical identity of alfalfa: the same plant as the sprout, named as species rather than as a kitchen style. The sprout is the young shoot; the forage hay is another use entirely. Buy it when a label lists the Latin name. Organic alfalfa sprout is the growing claim; this leaf is the plant.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
SaladSandwich
Traits
CrunchLatin LabelMildNot ForageNot HaySame PlantSpecies NameYoung Shoot
History
Alfalfa sprouts were sold under the species name as a salad novelty.
Medicago sativa labelling appeared on health-food sprout packs.
Species and organic claims split on sprout packets.