White Clover Strawberry Cookies (vegan, gluten-free)

If early summer could be expressed in the form of a cookie, this might be it! Celebrate the season of sunshine with these soft White Clover strawberry cookies that are packed with flavor and nutrients.

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WHITE CLOVER

Many people see White Clover as an uninvited weed growing in their lawns.... but after getting to know this special plant ally, I think almost anyone will find new appreciation for them!

White Clover (Trifolium repens) is a perennial plant who is part of the bean family (Fabaceae/Leguminosae). This special green friend is low growing, and produces pretty flower heads with white florets (which can sometimes show a hint of pink or cream). These flowers are favorite for bumblebees and honeybees. When you encounter White Clover, you will likely encounter them buzzing around the plant!

While White Clover's origins lie in Europe and Central Asia, with our help the plant has now spread to grassy areas in many parts of the world. Having found their place such a wide range of new ecosystems, White Clover truly shows their beneficial and adaptive qualities. We humans had specific reasons for distributing White Clover to so many new areas. In temperate zones, White Clover has become one of the most important legumes to feed cattle. They also help fertilize the soil and support the growth of crops as companion plants in fields. The plant has also generously been supporting humans as a survival food, offering various nutrients as well as more protein than most other plants contain.

When you learn about some of the folklore around Clovers, you will see the relationship humans have with this plant species goes back far. Clovers are among the few plants whose leaves are more popular than their flowers. They are surrounded by a rich history of myths, stories, and symbolic meanings.

In Celtic mythology, White Clover held a special significance as a sacred plant imbued with mystical powers. They were thought to offer protection against malevolent forces and bestow blessings upon their owner. In Christianity, the three leaves of the clover were seen as a symbol for the holy trinity. The most common belief you might be familiar with though, is the luck associated with finding a four-leaf clover, considered a potent magical talisman. In different parts of the world discovering a four-leaf clover has been considered a rare and extremely fortunate occurrence. Legend had it that carrying a four-leaf clover could enable you to see fairies, as well as attract good fortune and protection...

Wild Clover is also a special plant medicine that has been used by people all over the world. They contain many beneficial plant compounds, as well as essential vitamins and minerals (including vitamins A, B2, B3, C, and E, as well as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and chromium). Because of this, people have been using the plant to help boost their immune systems and treat different ailments. White Clover contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, that can support conditions like arthritis and joint pain. They have also been used to offer relief for respiratory conditions like colds, congestion, coughs, and bronchitis. When applied externally, White Clover's antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe skin conditions like rashes, small wounds, burns, and eczema, as well as relieve minor eye infections. White Clover has traditionally also been linked to blood purification and the maintenance of cardiovascular health. With regular consumption they can improve blood circulation, reduce cholesterol levels, and support general heart function.

FINDING WHITE CLOVER

When you look for White Clover, good places to explore are grassy areas like lawns, parks, fields, gardens, and roadsides. The plant thrives in more temperate climates and grows best in soils with clay or silt that hold plenty of moisture. White Clover can also grow in sandy soil that has a higher water table, or is being fertilized and irrigated. Since White Clover often grows near to where humans are, it is important to avoid harvesting them in areas that could be contaminated with pesticides, herbicides, or other types of pollutants.

White Clover is a resilient perennial plant that thrives in various climates throughout the year. In colder northern regions, they can survive beneath an insulating layer of snow, but struggle more in areas where they're exposed to the elements. With the rising temperatures of early spring, White Clover will begin to regrow. Flowers will start to appear on the plants in late spring to early summer, and with the right conditions they can continue to bloom until mid-fall. White Clover's long blooming cycle of nectar-filled flowers offers an important and steady food source for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects.

Identifying White Clover is not very difficult, but it is important to be aware of look-a-likes that are present in your local areas to ensure you have indeed found the right plant. White Clover is a relatively low growing plant, reaching 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 inches) tall. They have compound leaves, each composed of three leaflets (unless you are lucky and find one with four!). The leaflets are ovate-obcordate, green, hairless and have finely toothed margins. Sometimes you will see some white markings on them. The stems are thin and hairless.

White Clover flowers are fragrant (give them a smell!), and as the name suggests, white (sometimes with hints of pink or cream). They will turn brownish as they age. The flower heads are 1.5 to 2 centimeters (0.5 to 0.75 inches) wide. If you look closely, you will see that that they consist of many small florets (40 to 100), which each have five petals.

White Clover has some look-a-likes, which include: Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta, heart-shaped small leaves, yellow flowers), Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum, up to 60 cm/2 feet tall and partially hairy stems), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense, pink flowers, up to 80 cm/30 inches tall), and Black Medic (Medicago lupulina, yellow flowers and hairy stems). All of these look-a-likes are non-toxic, and even edible and medicinal, so you don't have to worry too much about making a mistake when it comes to these specific species.

HARVESTING & PROCESSING WHITE CLOVER

In order to not accidentally hurt the plant, it is best to harvest White Clover flowers with scissors. Simply cut stem as close as possible to the the flower heads. If some stem remains on these, you can cut these off later. Next to using the flowers in this cookie recipe, they make a nice addition to a variety of other baked goods, as well as in salads. The leaves are edible too, but it is best to cook them before using. They go well in soups, stews, and stir fries.

Whether when working with White Clover or anything else in nature, it’s important to walk softly on the Earth and to forage with care. We are guests and receivers of many gifts from the rest of nature, so please consider how you can do this respectfully. Please only take what you need, and leave plenty for pollinators and other beings also benefitting from the presence of White Clover. You could also consider to, in your own way, offer a small gesture of gratitude to this plant that so generously gives you a part of themselves.

VISUAL GUIDE FOR WHITE CLOVER COOKIES

After learning a lot about White Clover, it's now time to enjoy some delicious White Clover strawberry cookies! You can follow along with the simple steps below. At the bottom of this page you will find the whole recipe.

WHITE CLOVER COOKIES RECIPE

Disclaimer: Every year there are people that are poisoned or experience other negative health effects from eating inedible wild plants or mushrooms that resemble edible species. For this reason it's essential to ensure proper species identification and to consult multiple quality sources for doing this. It's also important to consider your unique health considerations before consuming wild foods. Please always check and follow all local foraging regulations before you harvest anything in nature.