It’s true that big things come in small packages - particularly in the department of microgreens. Microgreens are essentially young vegetable shoots, slightly older than sprouts. At this stage of growth, these tiny little leaves are power-packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients (up to 40 times more than the mature version of the plant), and are rightly touted as superfoods.

They taste fresh and the flavour is pretty much the same as their vegetable counterpart.

We discovered the world of Microgreens thanks to The First Leaf. The First Leaf lovingly grows and sells organic microgreen pots in Delhi/ NCR. They also occasionally conduct workshops so that you can learn to grow your own microgreens at home. We occasionally grow some basic microgreens ourselves, thanks to one of the workshops that we attended. We also routinely order some from The First Leaf for the convenience of just getting a ready-made pot of microgreens and for the unique variety that they have to offer.

Here is why you should be adding these tiny little microgreens to your life:

1. Easy way to eat some superfood

Each plant is a rich source of antioxidants and comes with its own set of key health benefits. A daily dose of a bunch of microgreens will give you 40 times more nutrition than the adult counterpart. Regular consumption reduces your risk of chronic diseases- and who wouldn’t want that?!

2. Farm to Table experience from the comfort of your home

These can (and should) be cut fresh and consumed raw. Many places sell packages of pre-cut microgreens. However, the key is to eat these little leaves raw, soon after they are cut, in order for your body to absorb their maximum nutritional value. This is basically why The First Leaf sells the plants themselves rather than pre-cut microgreens. We have been keeping one of the plants on our dining table during meal times, so that they're ready to cut and eat during meals- we sprinkle it on daal, vegetables, rice, blend it in juices or just eat it raw as a salad. It can't get more 'farm-to-table' than this!

3. Minimal care to keep them thriving

Microgreens are ready-to-eat and last for about 7-10 days with minimal care. They need to be kept outside in indirect sunlight and just need to be hydrated twice a day from the bottom, by dipping them in a tub of water -where the water level reaches half of the height of the container of the plant. They should not be watered from the top like you would normally water your plants. If the microgreens start wilting, it just means they're dehydrated and need more water - leave them in a tub for an hour or so and watch them bounce back to life! Just a little care everyday will make sure you have some fresh leaves to chop and eat.

If you’re in Delhi/NCR, get in touch with Swati Jain from The First Leaf to get your fresh pot of organic microgreens delivered to your doorstep. You can call or message her at +91 95994 72473. Use the special discount code ‘CLEANORIGINS’ to get 10% off on your order! Delivery is free anywhere in Delhi/ NCR. Alternatively, you can also order these from Nature’s Soul, The Roots or Earthy Tales.

They’re super healthy and easy to grow or maintain - you should be eating these microgreens today!