[LittleRedHen]

WE just harvested our first lot of carrots.  We planted them in tubs of sand/compost.  They look lovely, but taste just like soap!  Anyone have an idea why?

[Gardeningguru]

WE just harvested our first lot of carrots.  We planted them in tubs of sand/compost.  They look lovely, but taste just like soap!  Anyone have an idea why?

GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND:  Copied below from http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/cultivation.html

Carrots can taste soapy - Two ingredients determine a carrot's flavour: sugars and terpenoids (volatile compounds that impart the carrot flavour). Some varieties are naturally high in terpenoids, which make the carrots taste bitter or soapy. Because terpenoids develop earlier than sugars, a carrot that is harvested too young might taste bitter.

The taste in carrots is based on the right balance of sugars and terpenoids. Terpenoids produce a soapy turpentine-like taste that will mask sweetness. Differences in flavour components have been found to be attributable more to genetics than to climatic conditions; however, the controversy continues. Volatiles can also increase during cold storage (around -1C) which is a common practice (even for organics!)

Many different terpenes in carrot can cause a turpentine-like taste. Usually terpenes give a desirable taste to carrots, but in high concentrations can give undesirable taste. Factors influencing undesirable taste include genetics, growing conditions, diseases and insects, post-harvest handling and storage atmosphere.

Storing carrots near apples or other fruits that manufacture ethylene gas as they ripen, encourages the development of terpenoids in the vegetable and causing them to become bitter when exposed to ethylene.
Raw carrots will taste more soapy than cooked ones, as cooking breaks down the terpenoids allowing the sweetness to come through.
The Nantes variety produces roots which have higher sugar content, lower in terpenoids and less suitable for long-term storage.

[Sideways]

I thought the same of my first crop of broad beans, tasted soapy, but that went after a short period.