Cutting cucumbers

The other day, Jimbo was preparing dinner and he asked his 10 year old daughter to help cut the cucumber. While cutting it, she asked Jimbo this question:

“Daddy, why must I cut both ends off and then use the ends to rub against the cut part? Mummy said it was to remove any bitterness from the cucumber but when I asked her, she doesn’t know how it works. She said her mummy taught her and her mummy’s mummy thought her mummy!”

Actually Jimbo didn’t have an answer to that question! He has been taught to do the same by his mother and has never actually questioned the practice!

Anyone has a good explanation?

Mon, 270709 @ 0700