As the evenings seem to grow a little longer, we begin to hear forecasts of cherry blossoms and news of flowers blooming across the country, and our hearts flutter with anticipation.

Looking around the greengrocer's, spring vegetables like spring cabbage, asparagus, nanohana, seri, hakobe, fuki, and fukinoto unfurl their glossy green leaves. It feels as if the arrival of spring is accompanied by hushed giggles from every corner.

Spring vegetables and wild herbs that have endured the winter cold are said to contain a well-balanced array of nutrients essential for human metabolism, helping to detoxify the body of waste accumulated during winter.
Not only are seasonal spring vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals, but their unique bitterness and astringency stimulate the palate and invigorate the digestive system. This bitterness also aids in promoting cellular metabolism and detoxifying the body of waste.
Vegetables with buds, such as nanohana, are said to alleviate feelings of sluggishness and brighten the mood.
While we can fully appreciate the health benefits of spring vegetables from a nutritional standpoint, I can't help but wonder if the bitterness and slight spiciness, which we perceive as delicious flavors, are nature's way of ensuring we consume what our bodies need.

Spring brings leafy greens, summer offers juicy tomatoes and eggplants hanging heavy with sun-drenched goodness, and autumn into winter yields root vegetables hidden beneath the soil. If we take these for granted, that's the end of it, but aren't these the fruits of the changing seasons?

We often forget that we are sustained by nature, but 'seasonality' is not just about 'tasty' or 'not tasty'; it represents the nutrients our bodies require and what we receive from nature. We must remember this.

Still, it feels like one must reach a certain age to appreciate a pleasant bitterness as a delicious flavor. Is this also natural? Nature is full of wonders.

I make it a point to soak vegetables in plenty of water until they are crisp before cooking them.