Is it normal for aloe vera to be bitter?
                                
                                
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                                    6 min read                                
                            
                                The very name 'aloe' originates from the Arabic word 'alloeh,' meaning 'bitter and shiny substance,' a fitting description for parts of the plant. As its etymology suggests, it is completely normal for aloe vera to be bitter, but the reason lies in a specific, protective compound within the leaf.