Red clover was one of my favorite wildflowers as a child.
I thought they were so pretty, but little did I know that they
are also an exceptional helper for the soil and for us. Red
clover is "green manure", meaning it helps the soil and is
very good for compost piles as it contributes, potassium,
calcium and phosphorus. It also makes a nice tea that is
said to relieve menopausal symptoms, among other things.
You can grow it yourself for tea, or harvest it from fields
as long as you know no pesticides or chemicals were used.
Red Clover Tea
From "The Wild Flavor" by Marilyn Kluger
Ingredients:
1 Handful fresh red clover blossoms, w/a few leaves
Lemon
Honey
Optional:
Fresh mint leaves
-and/or-Several dandelion leaves
Put the blossoms and leaves into a 2-cup earthenware teapot.
Fill teapot with boiling water, cover, and infuse for 5 to 10
minutes over very low heat. Set the pot on a trivet over the
burner, if necessary, to protect it from breaking. Strain into
a hot cup, add a twist of lemon and sweeten with honey. Some
fresh mint leaves and/or several dandelion leaves can be used
with the clover blossoms.
Note: Red clover blossoms may be dried to use for tea. Spread
the blossoms out into a single layer on a tray and dry them in
the sun. Use less of the dried flowers, 1 to 1 1/2 tsp. to 1 cup
of water, to make the tea. Yield: 2 cups.
Richters
Herbs carries clover seeds. Click Here.
About the author:
Brenda lives in the rural Midwestern United States with her husband and
three children. She is a freelance writer and editor of Old Fashioned Living.com.
Perennial & Landscaping Resources
Breck's: Bulbs & Plants
Spring Hill Nursery
Michigan Bulb
Henry Field's
Gurney's Seed & Nursery
Jackson & Perkins
White
Flower Farm
Nature Hills Nursery
