Re: cucumber flavor

**K*@aol.com**

Goodness, I didn't know cucumber lovers--and I count myself one--were so  
touchy. I eat them raw, pickle them, make soup, and more. But I still say 
they  don't taste "crunchy" or "fresh" or "clean." And the request was for a  
description of flavor, not a description of the experience of biting into a  
cuke.

I stand by "pretty much flavorless," which is why almost all cucumber  
recipes, for both raw and processed dishes, either pair the fruits with  more 
flavorful foods or use lots of herbs, spices, vinegars, etc. Even "cucumber  
water" recipes add lemon, lime, mint, or some other flavor. Jeff Ball, who  
implies I may not appreciate cukes, recommends I "cut 'em up, sprinkle on a 
bit  of salt, some wine vinegar, thrown in some chopped onion and fresh 
tomatoes..."  Exactly my point. 

As for cucumber lore, take a look at the cucumber entry in my  Burpee-The 
Complete Vegetable and Herb Gardener. It has a wonderful  history. Karan 
Davis Cutler
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