Best Microgreens for Beginners: Which Ones Should You Try?

The first time you look at a list of microgreens, it can feel like more choice than you asked for. There isn't one variety that's right for everyone — the best one to start with is simply the one that matches the food you already like eating.

Sprinkle Greens · Updated: 2 September 2026

Varieties differ in flavour, texture, colour, how peppery they are and the kinds of dishes they suit. Some are so mild you'd happily eat a whole handful in a salad. Others are sharp enough that a pinch is plenty. Neither is better — they're just different tools.

This guide walks through the varieties Sprinkle Greens grows, what each one actually tastes like, and which ones tend to be easiest to get on with when you're starting out. If you'd like the basics first, read what microgreens are.

What Should Beginners Look for in a Microgreen?

Rather than starting with what's popular, it helps to start with your own preferences. A few things worth thinking about:

• Flavour intensity — do you want something you'll barely notice, or something that announces itself?
• Texture — fine and delicate leaves behave very differently from thick, crunchy stems.
• How you plan to use them — a garnish at the table, a layer in a sandwich, or a handful stirred into a bowl.
• Mild or peppery — this is the single biggest difference between varieties.
• Familiarity — flavours you already recognise, like pea or radish, are an easier first step.

If you're unsure, a milder variety is usually the gentler introduction. You can always move on to the peppery ones once you know how you like to use them.

The Best Microgreens for Beginners

Here's what Sprinkle Greens currently grows, described as honestly as we can. The beginner-friendly rating is our own editorial suggestion based on how easy each variety tends to be to enjoy at first — it isn't a measured score of any kind.

Broccoli Microgreens

Flavour

Mild, fresh and slightly earthy.

Texture

Tender with a delicate crunch.

Best for

First-time microgreen eaters, salads, dal, sandwiches and everyday meals.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★★

Try it

Add a handful to dal, a sandwich or a rice bowl just before serving.

Pea Shoots

Flavour

Mild, fresh and subtly sweet, with a clear pea-like note.

Texture

Tender stems with a satisfying crunch.

Best for

Dosa, poha, sandwiches, wraps and grain bowls.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★★

Try it

Scatter over hot poha or fold into a wrap with your usual filling.

Radish Microgreens

Flavour

Fresh and peppery, with a clean radish-like bite.

Texture

Crisp, with slender stems.

Best for

Chaat, sandwiches, salads and wraps.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★☆

Try it

Finish a plate of chaat with a small pinch instead of a full handful.

The peppery flavour is genuinely noticeable, and some first-time eaters find it stronger than expected. Start with a little and build up.

Sunflower Microgreens

Flavour

Mild and nutty, with a fresh finish.

Texture

Thick, crunchy stems — the most substantial of the lot.

Best for

Sandwiches, wraps, bowls and salads.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★★

Try it

Layer into a sandwich where you'd normally use lettuce.

Pak Choi Microgreens

Flavour

Mild and fresh, gently cabbage-like rather than sharp.

Texture

Soft leaves on crisp, juicy stems.

Best for

Bowls, Asian-inspired dishes, stir-fries and noodles.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★☆

Try it

Stir through noodles off the heat so they stay crisp.

Alfalfa Microgreens

Flavour

Light, mild and faintly sweet.

Texture

Fine and delicate.

Best for

Salads, sandwiches, bowls and everyday meals.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★☆

Try it

Pile onto buttered toast or a simple cucumber sandwich.

Mustard Microgreens

Flavour

Peppery and distinctive, with a sharp, wasabi-like edge.

Texture

Tender leaves, fresh and crisp.

Best for

Salads, sandwiches, wraps and dishes where a stronger flavour is welcome.

Beginner-friendly

★★★☆☆

Try it

Use a few leaves as seasoning rather than as a green.

Mustard suits people who already enjoy peppery greens — think of it more like a condiment than a salad base.

Amaranth Microgreens

Flavour

Mild and gently earthy.

Texture

Very delicate, fine leaves.

Best for

Salads, chaat, bowls and garnishing.

Beginner-friendly

★★★★☆

Try it

Add at the table, on top of a finished dish, for colour and contrast.

Which Microgreen Should You Try First?

If you'd rather skip the deliberating, use this as a shortcut. None of these is the "best" microgreen — they're just good matches for different palates.

• You prefer mild flavours

  → Broccoli, pea shoots or sunflower

• You like a little pepperiness

  → Radish

• You enjoy stronger, sharper greens

  → Mustard

• You want something versatile

  → Broccoli or pea shoots

• You want something visually vibrant

  → Amaranth

A Simple Beginner's Microgreen Box

If you've never tried microgreens and want one combination that covers a decent range of flavour and texture, this is the trio we'd suggest:

• Broccoli — mild and approachable, the one that disappears easily into everyday food.
• Pea shoots — fresh, subtly sweet and crunchy, good raw or scattered over hot dishes.
• Radish — adds a peppery contrast, so your meals don't all taste the same.

It's a flavour-balance recommendation rather than anything more than that: two mild varieties you'll use often, and one with a bit of bite to keep things interesting. Explore fresh microgreens in Bangalore to see what's growing right now.

How Much Microgreens Should a Beginner Try?

There's no quantity you need to hit. A small handful added to a meal you already cook is a perfectly good start — enough to taste the difference without committing to a whole plate of something unfamiliar.

From there, adjust to taste. With mild varieties you'll probably use more; with peppery ones like radish or mustard, a pinch often does more for the dish than a fistful.

How to Use Your First Box of Microgreens

The easiest approach is to change nothing about your cooking and add them at the end. Some ideas to begin with:

• Layer into a sandwich in place of lettuce.
• Scatter over a hot dosa just before it comes off the pan.
• Stir a handful through poha after the heat is off.
• Top a bowl of dal, or a plate of dal-rice.
• Toss through a simple salad.
• Finish a rice or grain bowl.
• Roll into wraps with your usual filling.
• Add a pinch to chaat for freshness and crunch.

For more detail and a few combinations worth trying, here are 15 easy ways to eat microgreens.

How to Store Your Microgreens

Keep it simple: refrigerate them soon after they arrive, and keep them fairly dry rather than wet. Wash only the portion you're about to eat. For the full routine, see how to store microgreens and keep them fresh.

Are Microgreens Different from Sprouts?

Yes — they're separate products. Sprouts are germinated seeds eaten whole, usually grown in water, while microgreens are grown in a medium with light and harvested later, once the first leaves have developed. You eat the stems and leaves, not the seed. The longer version: Microgreens vs Sprouts: What's the Difference?

New to Microgreens? Start Simple.

You don't need to completely change the way you eat to enjoy microgreens. Start with a variety that matches flavours you already like, add a small amount to a familiar meal, and explore from there. Most people find one or two varieties they reach for constantly — and that's a good place to land.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microgreens for Beginners

Ready to Try Your First Microgreens?

Sprinkle Greens grows microgreens in small batches in Bangalore, cut close to delivery rather than held in storage. If you're still undecided, start with one mild variety and one peppery one and see which your kitchen reaches for.

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