Is Red Clover Edible? How to identify, harvest, and eat Red Clover

I'm excited to share some insights about a fascinating wild edible plant with you – Red Clover (Trifolium pratense).

Mini Identification Guide for Red Clover

Red Clover can be found in fields, roadsides, forest edges, and open sunny areas. Here are some key features to help you identify it:

  1. Trifoliate leaves with three leaflets originating from the same point.

  2. Light-green to white "V" shaped watermark on each leaflet.

  3. 1-inch diameter round-ish pink to purple flowerheads with up to 100 slender flowers.

  4. Leaves grow alternately along the stem.

Edible Uses of Red Clover

While the leaves are edible, the flowers steal the show with their mildly sweet flavor. Here are some unique ways to use Red Clover in your culinary adventures:

  • Use the flowers and flower heads to thicken soups and stews.

  • Add individual flowers to cookie, muffin, pancake, waffle, and bread mixes.

  • Enhance sweet rice and oatmeal with these tasty blooms.

  • Enjoy a mild cup of Red Clover Tea, a personal favorite.

  • Elevate salads and omelets by tossing in the purple flowers.

Harvest and Preparation

The best edible parts are the young leaves and flowerheads. You can dry the flowerheads for teas and other culinary uses.


Warnings

Red Clover contains coumarin and coumarin-like compounds, which can reportedly inhibit blood coagulation, especially for those who may already be on blood thinning medication. Please consult with a holistic-minded physician before attempting to use Red Clover for medicinal purposes.


Recipe: Wild Clover Flower Tea

  • Ingredients: Dried or fresh Red Clover flowers (washed) and sweetener (honey or maple syrup).

  • Directions: Steep 2 teaspoons of dried or fresh flowers (or 4 whole flowerheads) in one cup of hot (not boiling) water for 5–8 minutes. Sweeten to taste with honey or maple syrup.


During the blooming months, consider drying Red Clover flowerheads in your outdoor solar dehydrator for year-round enjoyment.

It's not IF but WHEN!


Did you know I teach how to identify, harvest, prepare, and eat a new Wild Edible Plant every month through Wild Edible Plant of the Month Club?  Join myself and 100s of other wild foragers at https://www.wildedibleplantofthemonth.com!

Creek Stewart