Clover

[denham]

Anybody tried clover? I have the signature three leaves all over my backyard, and a large patch of the white clover flowers on the side of my house.

According to this site the flowers can be ground into a flour. http://montana.plant-life.org/species/trifol_repe.htm Supposed to have a vanilla flavor. Anyone tried this? Mine are very close to my neighbor's lawn, which is remarkably weed-free (and probably treated) so I am reluctant to try them.

[rockymtngirl]

Hi - I have a patch of clover in my flower bed - and for some reason I've always just let it grow - reviewed your link and I may try the tea. I'll let you know how it goes!
Kirstin

[spinnenrad]

I have used clover for years. The best for grinding into flour is the white clover. The red clover (purple to me) I use for teas and cough medicine. For either flower, pick the blossom on a dry afternoon. Place on a cookie sheet and allow to dry completely, about two or three days, depending on humidity. I pack the dried blooms into jars, green canning ones when possible to help block the sun, and store in a cool, dark place. You can grind the white blooms whenever you feel inclined. I use the red blooms as a tonic tea in winter or make a strong tea into syrup for cough medicine.

Hope this is of help.

[bookwormom]

interesting. I have never used white clover, except that I planted Ladino all over the place and it is coming on thick in the orchard. so what do you do with the flour? I grow white clover first of all as a soil improver and it also makes a good bee forage. It seems like a lot of effort to gather enough to make any quantity of flour. I hope you guys will elaborate on this a bit.

the red clover my grandmother always gathered and I took it over from her. (she died in 1960).
I heard it is supposed to be for "female complaints" however we know it to thin the blood. do not use it if you take blood thinners as it will interfere with it. So have you actually used it as a cough remedy? this is news to me. For cough tea I like coltsfoot best of all, it just works so well. Also plantain, the narrow leaf kind, if you have phlegm in your chest.

[MadTripper]

We munch on it when outside. I've always liked the flavor, a little sweet but not overpowering. I've never processed it into anything, just plucked the little flowers and ate them. My children enjoy it as well.

Tripper