bitter herbs
Horseradish at Passover
Bitter herbs are plants with a sharp, acrid taste, often used in cooking or medicine.
In Jewish tradition, bitter herbs (maror) are eaten during the Passover seder to symbolize the bitterness of slavery in Egypt—typically horseradish or romaine lettuce.
More broadly, the phrase describes any pungent herbs like dandelion greens, chicory, or endive.
Bitter salad leaf
- radicchioBitter purple-leafed vegetable
- arugulaPeppery Mediterranean salad green
- dandelion greensEdible parts of yellow-flowered weed
- escaroleBroad-leafed chicory variety
frisée · chicory · watercress · sorrel · mustard greens · broccoli rabe · turnip greens · kale
Spicy root used as condiment
- romaineElongated, crisp lettuce
- sederPassover ritual meal
- HaggadahPassover liturgical narrative
- charosetRitual fruit-nut paste
matzo · afikoman · Exodus · slavery · Egypt · freedom · Pharaoh · Moses
Aromatic mint-family shrub
- wormwoodBitter herb for absinthe
- gallImpudent boldness or bitterness
- myrrhFragrant gum from trees
- rueFeel deep remorse
coriander · cumin · anise · mint · dill · mustard · balm of Gilead · manna
endive
Bitter salad leaf
- radicchioBitter purple-leafed vegetable
- arugulaPeppery Mediterranean salad green
- dandelion greensEdible parts of yellow-flowered weed
escarole · frisée · chicory · watercress · sorrel · mustard greens · broccoli rabe · turnip greens · kale · chard
horseradish
Spicy root used as condiment
charoset · matzo · afikoman · Exodus · slavery · Egypt · freedom · Pharaoh · Moses · plagues
hyssop
Aromatic mint-family shrub
rue · coriander · cumin · anise · mint · dill · mustard · balm of Gilead · manna · mandrakes
wormwood
Bitter herb for absinthe
tansy · rue · mugwort · chamomile · centaury · dandelion root · milk thistle · burdock · digestive · tonic
pungent
Sharply strong-smelling
astringent · tangy · bracing · harsh · piercing · acerbic · strong · intense · cleansing · palate
- Pesachimpaschal lamb, four cups
- Passoverseder plate, Passover, matzah, seder, charoset
- Passover Sederseder, seder plate, seder meal, matzah, matzo
- Biblical Foodsmanna, unleavened bread, figs, grapes, olives
- ExodusMoses, burning bush, ten commandments, Red Sea, ten plagues
- Jewish foodbagel, challah, brisket, matzo ball soup, kugel
bitter herbshoney
Bees' viscous nectar product
sweet · sweet basil · salty · sour · sugary
bitter herbscharoset
Ritual fruit-nut paste
matzah · wine · afikomen · salt water · egg
bitter herbsculinary herbs
Edible plants for seasoning
confections · honey · mint · fruit · parsley
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