More On the Taste Like mentioned earlier, arugula is best described to have a “peppery” and slightly spicy taste. Basically, what black pepper smells like, arugula tastes like. If it smells spoiled, nasty, and the peppery smell comes off as sour, it is no good.Click to see full answer. Similarly, you may ask, why is my arugula bitter?Arugula offers an herbaceous, peppery flavor with nuances of nuts and mustard. Leaves allowed to mature too long on the arugula plant will become bitter in taste. The pungent flavor of arugula is due to its high content of sulfur containing compounds known as glucosinolates.Additionally, does arugula go bad? Properly stored, arugula will usually keep well for about 2 to 3 days in the fridge. How to tell if arugula is bad or spoiled? Arugula that is spoiling will typically become slimy and mushy and its color will deteriorate; discard arugula if it has an off smell or appearance. Keeping this in view, how do you get the bitterness out of arugula? To lessen the bitter load of arugula, marinade the greens in a mixture of coconut oil and lemon juice for at least 30 minutes. Massage the arugula greens with your hands every few minutes to deepen the wilting process. When they’re ready, your wilted greens will be fresh, tangy, and full of flavor!Why do people eat arugula?The fiber content helps clean out the colon promoting healthy bowel movements. The phytochemicals, antioxidants and essential minerals found in arugula help cleanse out toxins in the body. Arugula is high in most B vitamins but contains especially high amounts of folate.