Herb
Nasturtium officinale
S tier
Nasturtium officinale is true watercress—peppery, juicy aquatic brassica of clean streams and commercial beds, essential for soups, sandwiches, and salads. Hollow stems and pinnate leaves define the grocery bunch. Not the same as garden nasturtium flowers (Tropaeolum). Eat young before yellowing heat stress. Species is the scientific core of cultivated watercress.
Track this ingredient
Unit
Characteristics
Preparations
SaladSandwichSmoothieSoupWilt
Traits
FreshGreenHollow StemJuicyPepperyPeppery AquaticSandwich GreenTrue Species
History
GR
Classical writers noted watercress as a sharp green food.
GB
English watercress beds commercialised the crop.
Botany fixed Nasturtium officinale as watercress.
Bagged watercress remained a UK and global salad staple.