Food For Free: Foraging in Autumn 🍂
There is still plenty of wild edible flora to harvest at this time of year in the UK. As we know, foraging is the ultimate antidote to monotony. I’ve gathered seven edible delights that I personally have stumbled across in the last month inland and on the coast.
Sea Rocket
Cakile maritima and me.
As a succulent, this plant holds plenty of water and is found mostly on sandy shores. It tastes just like its terrestrial sister, lively and bitter. Sea rocket provides beta carotene, fibre, calcium, potassium and a range of B vitamins. It is a nutrient rich addition to any meal.
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Cleavers are covered in small bumps, which turn in to a kind of natural ‘velcro’ the older it gets. Look for young, sprightly plants to avoid this. It can be somewhat unpalatable but is a wild green that perseveres in the depths of winter. It’s nice seeped in hot water as tea and infused for tinctures. Fresh are best and full of trace minerals.
White Head Dead Nettle
Lamium album
Found it wastelands, scrubs, woodlands and gardens. These are the non stinging plant from the mint family. Again, they visible when many plants are not They have large amounts of iron, vitamin C and pleasant velvet texture.
Rock Samphire
Crithmum maritimum
Rock samphire is found all across the rugged shores of the UK. I like to think of the samphires as coastal ‘herbs’. Rock samphire is light and fragrant, which makes it a nice addition to seafood. It can also add a zingy depth to lovely homemade liquor or seasonal gin.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Yarrow will not be in its prime potency but it’s good to know it’s still around. Its a great digestive tonic and the active ingredients are its essential oils (cineol & chamazules) bitters and tannins. It can be found on grassy sites like meadows, pastures and gardens. I love the smell of yarrow (though not everyone does) and find the dried plant makes a beautiful interior addition to the home.
Rose [hips]
Rosa canina
Rose-hips contain high amounts of vitamin C, tannins, fruit acids, carotenoids and rutin. The fruits are nice additions to jams, juice and teas. The classic rose-hip syrup comes to mind, for which you can find a sugar free recipe across the internet. I like to eat rose hips raw and use them as an extra boost of vitamin C, in my morning oats.
Dandelion [roots]
Taraxacum officinale
Dandelion root is an extremely powerful bitter tonic that can be used to treat a range of internal and external complaints, with its diuretic and anti-fungal properties. It contains vitamins A, B and C and is rich in bitters, tannins, some essential oils and flavonoids. This root stock makes a natural, caffeine free dandelion coffee.
