Affilla Blog Post

Spring is coming. No, really. We know it’s hard to imagine, in the depths of February… But it really is right around the corner. The days are getting longer (and warmer) and soon we’ll see the first signs of garden life in the form of young grass shoots and bright pastel crocuses. As a chef, now is the very time to begin preparing for your Spring menu. While it’s difficult to do in the heart of winter, it’s a great opportunity to begin imagining the things you’ll be able to create with a full bounty of Spring ingredients at your fingertips.

Our Affilla Cress is one such ingredient. Because Flavour Fields is a year round greenhouse operation, all of our microgreens are available throughout the seasons (year round), and that includes Affilla Cress. If you’re familiar with microgreens, you’ve probably run across Affilla Cress at some point – it’s one of our most popular microgreens!

The shoots of this plant are very popular in South East Asia. Chinese people call it ´HE LAN DO´ (pronounced: che-lando), which means ´Holland’. This name refers to the Dutch traders from the VOC (United East Indies Company) who, in the 17th century (the Dutch Golden Century) brought ideas to growers in the region. A sturdy and very curly variety of sweet pea tendril. Affilla Cress is crisp and sweet with the concentrated flavor of sweet garden peas. It can hold its structure under hot conditions, which makes it one of the most durable microgreens in the kitchen.

Affilla’s unique flavor profile makes it easy to pair with so many types of cuisine. The flavor of fresh sweet garden peas is a homerun when paired with seafood and spring vegetables. Check out this Smoked Salmon with Soybeans and Pear – the crisp curly furls of the young pea plant pair perfectly with the smokiness of the salmon, and the bright green pop of the edamame.

While Affilla is indeed available year round – it really shines brightest in the springtime. Its association with peas (which are famously spring ingredients) makes this season the perfect opportunity to utilize them. Beautiful, delicious, sturdy, and LOCAL! What more could you possibly want in a spring garnish? Do yourself a favor, and spring for some Affilla this season!