White clover is loved by the bees and is often found in gardens and yards. Generally, it is seen as a weed but like most ‘weeds’ if we look a little closer we can see that it has much to offer us. This summer leave some for the bees but also consider using white clover for food and medicine in your kitchen and herbal apothecary.
Using White Clover for Food
All of the aerial parts of the clover plant are edible : leaves, stems, flowers, and seed pods. The dried leaves and flowers are slightly sweet and can leave behind a faint vanilla-like flavor.
Use them fresh or dried in baked goods. Use the leaves raw in salads or dry for baked goods later. The flowers make a delicious tea and can be used dried or fresh.
While the flavor is not exactly the same as red clover, try using white clover in any recipe that calls for red clover.
Some recipes for white clover:
- White Clover Pudding
- White Clover Snow (a kind of gelatin)
- Strawberry White Clover Cookies
- White Clover Iced Tea
Drying White Clover
Spread the blossoms and the leaves out onto trays or screens and let dry until crispy. Alternatively, tie the blossoms and leaves into bundles and hang until completely dry and crispy. Store the dried herbs in air-tight jars. I, personally, dehydrate only the blossoms to use in tea and baked goods but the leaves are good too.
Using White Clover for Medicine
More is more written about red clover than white clover, it seems. However, White clover (Trifolium repens) does have its own medicinal uses. It was traditionally used to purify and cleanse the blood. A tea made from the blossoms can be used as an eyewash. Tincture the leaves to use as an ointment for gout. Make a tea infusion to fight fevers and colds.
Harvest those white blossoms from unsprayed yards and parks this summer, and begin using white clover in the kitchen and home medicine cabinet.
Carol Fryer
Friday 18th of December 2020
I discovered the wonders of white clover accidentally. I had had my yard sprayed and just didnt like it. I stopped and a couple years went by. Suddenly one morning I woke up and my lawn was filled with white clover. More then I had ever seen. I began to pick the blossoms at first, knowing I looked crazy to my neighbors..lol. Then I looked up white clover online and discovered the leaves were good...so I begain picking and drying as much as I could. You could use them in soups and anything you want,muffins and what ever. I found out Bakers Creek had red clover seeds and ordered some. I also ordered lambs quarter, that my mother once told me was very nutritious. I tried it and it was just like spinach. I need to get some purslane that my mom also said was good. I had started using it in soups and was very surprised. Theres a whole wonderful natural world of food that we have been taught to spray with chemicals and poisons. Enough of that. Im on a roll.
Sophie Cassel
Wednesday 31st of July 2019
Just a note that the "vanilla" flavor is due to the coumarin content of this lovely plant, which alludes to its potential use as a circulatory stimulant and mild blood thinner. Shouldn't be a problem for anyone just drinking occasional tea or adding to salad, but in large doses could pose a problem for folks who are already on pharmaceutical blood thinners. Just want to make sure folks are safe and remember that plant medicine can interact with pharma meds not because they are "dangerous" but because the plants know how to heal.
Cha
Monday 20th of May 2019
Should we wash it before drying? If so, what method do you recommend? Thanks.
Kathie Lapcevic
Tuesday 21st of May 2019
Yes always wash to remove dirt, bugs, deer urine, etc. etc. https://homespunseasonalliving.com/clean-foraged-plants/
Donna
Sunday 16th of September 2018
Westcoastseeds sell white clover seed.
Aislynn
Monday 26th of February 2018
Hi! thank you for your post! i have a connection to this plant and only recently moved to a location it may flower in the summer. do you know of any way to purchase it dried?
Jenifer
Sunday 4th of March 2018
Maybe check with a co-op like azure?
Kathie Lapcevic
Tuesday 27th of February 2018
I don't know any place find it dried, I'm sorry. I searched my usual places and they don't sell it.