The Creeping Günsel - so called because of its numerous runners - is a pretty, mostly blue-flowering perennial that can be found in many places in meadows, in sparse deciduous forests, on the edges of forests and fields as well as in hedges and bushes. The perennial, which grows up to 30 centimeters high, can sometimes also be found in gardens, where it is particularly popular as a ground cover. The creeping gunsel is also used as a wild herb and as a medicinal plant.
Is the Creeping Günsel edible and in which dishes can it be used?
The creeping gunsel is edible and can be used in the kitchen. It tastes tart and bitter and is suitable for seasoning salads, stews, soups, potato and egg dishes as well as in herb sauces. The milder flowers go well with sweet dishes and fruits.
Identify and collect creeping gunsels
You can find the lush flowering plant between April and June / July, especially in Central and Northern Europe on nutrient-rich, humus-loamy, fresh to moderately moist soils. During the flowering period, the Günsel can be recognized primarily by the candle-like inflorescence that grows upwards, while the green to brown-red leaves lie flat on the ground like a rosette. Traditionally, the creeping Günsel is collected between May and June, where both the leaves and the stems and flowers can be used. It is best to pick the plants whole and hang them to dry in a dark, warm and airy place.
Using the Creeping Gunsel in the Kitchen
The creeping gunsel tastes very tart and bitter, similar to chicory, and should therefore only be used very sparingly. Leaves and stems are very suitable for seasoning salads, stews and soups. Günsel also goes well with various potato and egg dishes (e.g. potato casseroles, omelets with vegetable fillings, etc.) and in herb sauces. The milder flowers, on the other hand, are also pleasing to the eye on sweets and desserts, and also taste great with sweet fruits such as melons, mangoes or bananas.
The creeping gunsel as a medicinal plant
The use of creeping Günsel is also very common in traditional folk medicine, in which an infusion of Günsel flowers and leaves can be used both externally and internally. The anti-inflammatory herb was used primarily to treat wounds, bruises, bruises and scars, but also against stomach and intestinal problems, digestive problems and loss of appetite, heartburn, sore throats and inflammation of the oral mucosa.
Tip
There is only a risk of confusion with other wild herbs such as meadow sage, Gundermann or the small brownwort, which are all also edible.
