Various types of clover are grown in large areas in some parts of Europe as fodder for cattle and other livestock. However, many gardeners do not know that clover can also be used by humans as food and medicine.
Are clovers edible for humans?
Both white and red clover are edible for human consumption and can be used as decorative dishes, in salads or vegetable mixes. Wood sorrel is also edible, but should only be consumed in moderation due to its high oxalic acid content.
Using clover in the kitchen
White and red clover (or meadow clover) can be used equally for human consumption. However, you should know why agricultural livestock sometimes experience symptoms of poisoning when feeding large or wet amounts of clover: The oxalic acid contained in clover is roughly comparable in content to chard, rhubarb and spinach. That's why you shouldn't consume clover in excess or too often, but rather use it to refine certain dishes:
- the fresh, pickled or dried flowers as a decorative ingredient in dishes
- the leaves fresh or heated as an ingredient in salads and vegetable mixtures
- the fresh or germinated seeds
Positive effects of clover on he alth
Clover (especially red clover) has been used as a medicinal plant for a very long time because it is said to have the following positive effects:
- against inflammation of the mucous membranes (external use)
- relieves diarrhea and chronic bronchitis
- blood purifying effect
- relieves loss of appetite
- relieves gout and rheumatism
The isoflavones contained in red clover are also said to alleviate he alth problems caused by falling estrogen levels in women during menopause. Recently, clover has also been used as an ingredient in natural cosmetics because it is said to relieve wrinkles and have a rejuvenating effect.
Use sorrel as a he althy food
Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) is also basically edible and has a refreshingly sour taste. You should only eat sorrel in moderation, as it also contains a relatively high amount of oxalic acid and can be toxic if consumed in excess. The plant, often referred to as wood sorrel, grows in mixed forests with loamy and clayey soils up to 2,000 meters above sea level. The white flowers can be harvested from April to June and used as edible decorations. For regular use in the kitchen, you can also grow wood sorrel in pots in a shady location in the garden.
Tip
Smaller quantities of clover can often be collected in the wild with the consent of the responsible landowner. However, pay attention to where exactly you harvest the clover for consumption. After all, the edges of many feeding meadows along walking paths in this country are often affected by dog excrement.
