Venture into the lush embrace of nature, and you might stick with a remarkable herb—cleavers (also known as Sticky Willy), known for its sticky touch and healing properties. This guide invites you to discover cleavers' untapped culinary and medicinal uses, a plant with purpose.
Description and Identification
Cleavers' slender, sprawling stems are adorned with whorls of narrow leaves and tiny, white to greenish flowers. Its most distinctive feature is the small, hook-like hair covering its stems and leaves, making it 'stick' to clothing and fur.
What Do Cleavers Taste Like?
Cleavers' tender shoots and leaves have a mild, slightly grassy taste. They're best enjoyed when young and fresh, as older parts can become tough and fibrous.
Foraging Tips
Find cleavers in the cool spring in moist, shaded areas like woodlands or the edges of waterways. Their clinging nature makes them easy to identify, but always forage away from polluted areas.
Harvesting Techniques
Harvest cleavers by gently pulling the stem, allowing it to detach from its clinging posts. Rinse thoroughly to remove debris, and use it fresh for the best nutritional value.
Culinary Uses
Cleavers can be juiced or blended into smoothies for a cleansing spring tonic. They can also be used as a spinach substitute in soups and stews, adding a touch of green and a mild flavor.
Later in the season, once the stick seeds turn brown, they can be collected, roasted, and ground into a coffee-like substitute. Unlike Dandelion Root and Chicory, cleavers are cousins to the coffee plant, so there is a mild caffeinated benefit.
Recipe Ideas
A simple Cleavers Smoothie can be made by blending fresh cleavers with cucumber, apple, and lemon juice for a detoxifying drink. Or, try a Cleavers and Potato Soup for a warming, nutritious meal.
Comments
No Comments