Are beets supposed to taste like dirt?

+1 vote
asked Aug 8, 2018 in Other-Food Drink by judithking (280 points)
Are beets supposed to taste like dirt?

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Aug 8, 2018 by VirgTara (250 points)
Yes beets tasting like dirt is very normal and the reason beets sometimes taste like dirt and have an earthy flavor to them is because of the Geosmin in the soil.

Geosmin in the soil is an organic compound produced by bacteria which is what causes things like beets to have an earthy and dirt taste to them.

Geosmin is not toxic or harmful to humans and is very safe to ingest.

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