FAQ
About the products, Cresses and specialties
- What is the material on which cresses grow?
All cresses at Koppert Cress are grown on cellulose, a raw material from responsibly cultivated wood, which is also used as the basis for paper. The cresses that are offered to the consumer grow on biologically produced hemp. Both materials are completely natural. In nature, plants grow on soil, but having soil in the professional kitchen is not desirable due to hygienic reasons. A synonym for ground is dirt, which implies that it is dirty. That is why Koppert Cress has opted for clean materials that have no negative impact on food safety. After the cresses have been cut off the growing material can be recycled.
- What kinds of products does Koppert Cress produce?
Koppert Cress produces cress and specialties. Cresses are seedlings that are sold when they are still very small. Seedlings are the first leaves to emerge from the seed. The English word 'cress' is written differently depending on the language used. In French it is called "cresson", in German "Kresse" and in Dutch "kers". However, these words all refer to the same thing: a young plant with small leaves.
Specialties is a word to describe a wide variety of edible flowers, leaves and other surprising products. The flowers and leaves come from adult plants that are grown in the Koppert Cress greenhouses, separately from the cress production. In addition, there is a number of specialties that are difficult to categorise, such as the seaweed Moai Caviar or Algae Powder due to different production processes. An overview of the entire collection can be found here.
- What is the difference between cress and sprouts?
The difference between cress and sprouts becomes clear when comparing the production methods. Cress is grown in a greenhouse, on tables under sunlight for example, which is preferred because this way the natural energy source (the sun) is used most efficiently. Sometimes cresses are also grown vertically under artificial light in so-called 'vertical farms'. Cresses are sold by Koppert Cress as living plants. This means that the plants still sit in a growing medium and will continue to grow until they are cut by the end user. In this way the taste, the appearance and the nutrients remain in the most optimal condition. Although the seeds of cresses are edible, the plant is often eaten without the seeds because the cress is cut off.
Bean sprouts are a good example of sprouts. Bean sprouts are germinated at high temperature and humidity in large drums that rotate continuously. No growth medium is used. Because the end product is still attached to the seed, it is often eaten as a whole.
- How is cress grown?
To grow cress, you need the ideal combination of seeds, growth medium, temperature, water and sunlight. Depending on the crop, you can grow the end product within a week to 1.5 month. Read more about this process here.
- Are the cresses produced organically?
Koppert Cress is not yet, but is striving to be, a 100% organic grower. To grow cress organically you need: organic seeds, an organically certified medium, water (without fertilizers, using only organic fertilizers when necessary) and sunlight. In addition, the production, packaging and transport are organized in such a way that it at least meets the requirements set by SKAL biocontrole (the largest independent organisation for the supervision of organic production in the Netherlands). The desires and needs of direct customers and end users are also considered.
Some cress varieties can be grown without fertilizers and therefore Koppert Cress can already offer organic products under the consumer brand Discover Fresh. These products are grown in a separate production area on hemp, without the use of fertilizers.
Organic Garden Cress
Organic Purple Cress
Organic Mustard
Organic Arugula
Organic Red Mustard
Organic Sakura
Organic BroccoCress
Koppert Cress is working on scaling up organic seed production and finding food-safe organic fertilizers for the products that just need that little push to be available in high quality all year round.
- Will cresses continue to grow after they are cut?
Plants need leaves to grow. If all the leaves are cut off, the plant will no longer be able to draw strength from the sun and its growth will stop.
- Are cressen healthy?
Cresses are vegetables; vegetables contain minerals, vitamins and fibres and based on that reasoning they are very healthy. All types of vegetables (and therefore all Koppert Cress products) contain their own range of nutrients. The health effects of these nutrients remain difficult to measure. We discuss how this works here.
- Where do the plants and their flavours come from?
The flavours in Koppert Cress products are entirely natural; no flavours are 'added'. All the flavour that the plant has is already genetically contained in the seed. That is why it is extra surprising that there are so many flavours that we do not yet know about. Curious where we get all these plants from? Take a look at our travel story "Planthunters".
Shelf-life and availability, For optimal quality
- How can I best store Koppert Cress products?
Some of the products have to be kept cold, and others warm, which can often be traced back to the origin of the plants. In principle, cool storage is preferable; it stops the growth, and cut products such as most specialties will remain in good condition for longer. However, plants from warm regions have a minimum temperature. Basil, for example, turns black when it is stored too cold. That is why warm varieties such as Basil Cress should be kept outside the fridge between 12-16°C.
To know exactly how to keep the products in high quality, please take a look at the packaging. The cress boxes depict a refrigerator. If there is a line through the refrigerator, the products do not belong in the refrigerator. The specialty packaging on the other hand, shows a thermometer that indicates the minimum and maximum temperature.
- Where can I find the availability of Koppert Cress products?
We aim to supply all products all year round. As it remains a natural product, it sometimes happens that some products are not available due to circumstances. You can register here for the availability list that is sent out every week. By subscribing to the availability list, you will be informed of the available range on a weekly basis. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. You will not receive any other promotion or unwanted advertising.
- I am a consumer, where can I buy Koppert Cress products?
Because Koppert Cress mainly sells to professional users, the products are limitedly available for cooking enthusiasts and connoisseurs.
a) Wholesalers and greengrocers
Customers can sometimes buy or order Koppert Cress products at catering wholesalers. These products are also available at various greengrocers. You can click here for an overview of resellers.
b) Consumer Webshop
A large part of the assortment is available through the consumer webshop. A point of attention: the products can be ordered online, but have to be collected from the reception desk at De Poel 1, 2681 MB Monster (Google maps) or can be send by mail after receiving the order confirmation.
c) Drive-in
A limited selection is always available at the reception desk at the Koppert Cress main location at De Poel 1, 2681 MB Monster (Google maps).You can pay in cash, via digital banking or via a payment request.
- Do I have to water the cress?
To keep the cress in optimal condition, the growing medium must remain moist. Is the medium drying out? Then just put the plants in a layer of water until the medium is saturated again. Let the plants drain and put them back in the box. This way you can enjoy fresh cress for as long as possible.
About Koppert Cress, What you always wanted to know
- What kind of company is Koppert Cress?
Koppert Cress is a horticultural company that produces edible plants and flowers. The greenhouses are located in Westland in Zuid-Holland.
- What is Koppert Cress' mission?
The mission of Koppert Cress is "Let's change the way we look at food". This is based on our conviction that healthy food is crucial for a healthy existence.
- Who is Rob Baan?
Rob Baan founded Koppert Cress in 2002 and has been CEO all these years. Are you looking for a biography or for his columns? Then take a look at Robbaan.com. Not quite what you are looking for? This travel story describes the core of Rob's personal history.
- Is it possible to visit Koppert Cress?
You can experience the edible plant world yourself at Koppert Cress during a Cressperience. Cressperience is a combination of the words 'cress' and 'experience', where we surprise our visitors through all five senses. You will taste the products, see the greenhouse from the inside and learn about the philosophy of Koppert Cress and Rob Baan. Approximately 300 groups visit Koppert Cress each year, ranging from 2 to 250 people. Visitors range from suppliers, direct customers, chefs and catering staff to schoolchildren and politicians.
You can contact us for more information about tours, presentations, tastings and events.
Sustainability, For a healthy earth and healthy people
- Is Koppert Cress sustainable?
Nature is our provider, which we strive to protect. Our continuous aim is to produce as sustainably as possible, which from a technical point of view means using as little fossil fuel as possible, in order to contribute to the recovery of the earth. For this reason, we have established a sustainable and integrated energy system linked to our greenhouses. This means that all energy sources in our company (systems that produce heat or cold) are connected to each other for optimal efficiency. Read more about these systems here.
The result: although our acreage has quadrupled over the years, gas consumption has been reduced by almost 70% per m2 . Preparations are in process to start using heat from a geothermal source in the near future, so that Koppert Cress can produce completely fossil-free at all the locations in Westland. The door is always open for the latest techniques and the crazy ideas from the Friday night drinks result in profitable projects such as the energy roof and the canal heat. It's all possible; just a matter of doing, together with nature and our suppliers.
General information, All sorts of things
- Which cress is best to use for...?
Because taste is subjective, we advise you to have fun cooking and experiment with flavours. However, if you would like some inspiration, please have a look at the CressSelector on the main page of the Koppert Cress website. Here you can find the right combinations with the variety of cresses based on several variables. The recipe page on the website might also provide more culinary inspiration. Enjoy cooking!
- What types of packaging are there?
The packaging page provides an overview of the different types of packaging.
- What is a Cressperience Box session?
To experience a Cressperience online, we offer Cressperience Box sessions. These are digital live sessions in which Koppert Cress' culinary advisors go through a Cressperience Box together with the audience to show in which ways the products could be used. The audience will also receive a box, making it possible to cook together while social distancing. If you are interested in a Cressperience Box session, please contact us via our contact form.
- What is the Koppert Cress colour diamond?
In addition to a unique (registered) product name, Koppert Cress uses a colour wheel (colour diamond) to give each product an individual combination of colours (9) for use in communications. This gives each Koppert Cress product a unique appearance. By using 5 basic colour wheels (the taste profiles: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami) each colour wheel adds to the versatile assortment.
The colour wheel consists of two parts, flavour and taste friends. If applicable (with explicit tastes), flavour can be divided into two parts, main and after taste.
A colour wheel is a circular sequence of colours and is part of conveying a specific colour message within colour psychology. There is no rational for larger and smaller segments; their nature is aesthetic. Together, all the segments form a colour diamond.
Other questions, Contact
Is your question not listed or are you missing information? We are happy to answer it for you via e-mail (info@koppertcress.com), telephone (+31174242819) or the contact form.