• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kitchen and Other Stories
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Main Course Recipes
  • Soup Recipes
  • Healthy Salad Recipes
  • Side Dishes & Snacks
  • Dessert & Drink Recipes
  • Kitchen Skills & Hacks
  • Foraging & Sustainable Living
  • About
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Breakfast Recipes
  • Main Course Recipes
  • Side Dishes & Snacks
  • Dessert & Drink Recipes
  • Healthy Salad Recipes
  • Soup Recipes
  • Foraging & Sustainable Living
  • Kitchen Skills & Hacks
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Foraging & Sustainable Living

    Spring Foraging: Detox With Cleaver Infused Water

    Published: Apr 4, 2022 · Modified: Apr 12, 2022 by Chef Tripti · This post may contain affiliate links

    Here in the UK, we have entered the first days of spring. Mother nature has awoken from her winter slumber; plants and trees are growing and blossoming. These signs of life can only mean one thing to us wild food lovers: More foraging trips! At the top of my foraging list, one very abundant plant is cleaver or goosegrass. It is relatively easy to identify and forage and needs little preparation. Considered a weed and thus something to remove by many, you may be surprised to find out that cleavers can upgrade your water to detox water.

    Have a look at my nutritious noodle soup recipe where I have used more wild food ingredients, often considered weeds: Dandelion leaves, ground ivy and garlic mustard.

    Pitcher containing cleavers infusing in water with a glass of cleaver infused water
    Cleaver Detox Water

    Where To Find Cleaver

    Cleaver is widespread across the globe. It is native to many parts of Europe and North Africa and found in the USA, Canada, Central America, South America, Australia and New Zealand, amongst other countries.

    In the UK, you will find it in woodlands, hedges, and cultivated grounds. As a creeping plant, it can quickly overwhelm areas and other flora. You can forage cleavers from springtime through summer and even into autumn and winter. So your detox water supply can last most of the year!

    A close up of a patch of young cleaver growing in the wild
    Young Cleaver Patch

    How To Identify Cleaver

    You must be confident with your identification before ingesting wild ingredients. Don't just rely on one identification feature. Use as many as possible.

    Cleavers is also known as goosegrass because it is a favourite food of geese. It also has many nicknames like sticky willies and gripgrass. Tiny hairs on the leaves make them stick to clothes and fur. It is a natural plaything for kids chasing their friends, trying to stick it on their clothes, and an annoyance for pet owners!

    Some identification features:

    • Cleaver leaves which are narrow and pointed, grow in a circle of six to eight leaves around the central stem. The leaf circles are about one to two inches apart, however this spacing increases towards the base of the stem.
    • As said, the leaves contain tiny hairs that make the plant "sticky".
    • Cleavers produce tiny white flowers that are about 2mm across and star shaped.
    • Cleavers have a square stem.

    How To Make Cleaver Detox Water

    Making your detox water is very simple. Gather your cleavers and give them a good wash under the tap. Then place the whole stems and leaves into your water bottle and let it infuse the water for a couple of hours at least. Aim to drink two to three glasses a day. The longer it infuses, the stronger the taste, so see what is to your liking. I refill the pitcher for a second infusion with the same bunch of cleavers.

    A pitcher containing cleaver stems and leaves in water, with a bunch of cleaver stems next to it.
    Infusing Cleavers In Water

    Of course, the taste is all-important. It has a very refreshing taste, reminiscent of cucumber water.

    If you are going to eat the cleavers, it is best to harvest early in the growing season, or else they become intolerably stringy. You can use them in salads and soups. Boil them in water for a few minutes, and the fine hairs "melt" away.

    How To Video

    Here is a video guide to making your cleaver detox water.

    Heath Benefits Of Cleaver Detox Water

    When we feel under the weather, a trip to the pharmacy is usually in order. However, nature provides us with a gigantic pharmacy of natural and free remedies. As a folk medicine, the cleaver has many benefits, both as an infused detox water and as a food item:

    • Lymphatic system: The lymphatic system in our bodies helps us fight infection. It is part of our immune system. Lymph fluid passes through the lymph nodes throughout our bodies. Cleavers aid the fuctioning of this lymphatic system.
    • Kidneys: Cleavers are a diuretic, that is, it helps stimulate the passing of fluid. Thus can act as an effictive flush for the kidneys.
    • Urinary tract: Cleavers can help easy urinary tract infections such as cystitus.
    • Lower blood pressure: Through a thinning effect on the blood, cleaver can help lower blood pressure.

    These are just a few of the medicinal benefits of cleavers. There are many articles on the web with comprehensive guides. Take a look.

    Foraging Resources

    I can't stress enough the importance of being confident with identifying wild food before you ingest anything. Otherwise, there is a real risk of poisoning and becoming ill.

    An excellent way to learn is to go on a course with an expert forager.

    I always take a few books with me to help with identification. "The Foragers Calendar" details what can be foraged month by month. "Food For Free" is a classic. It is pocket-sized, so convenient when outdoors.

    I also use an app called "Picture This". The app scans a photo you take with the phone camera and identifies the plant. It is like having a botanist by your side! I have found it to be accurate.

    The golden rule is: If in doubt, do not eat!

    Spread The Love. Thank You So Much!

    More Foraging & Sustainable Living

    • Homemade Medlar Fruit Butter. Simple And Delicious
    • The Best Vegan Carob and Sloe Berry Brownie Recipe
    • How To Make Sloe Flavoured Balsamic Vinegar Reduction
    • Easy Home Made Sloe Gin Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Blog author behind lavender plant
    Chef Tripti

    Hi! Tripti here. I am a Michelin trained chef with over 20 years experience in the industry. My mission is to have you cooking fresh, nutritious food with simple recipes that deliver on creativity and taste. Food with heart and soul.

    More about me →

    If you love my recipes as much as I love sharing them, please consider supporting me

    Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

    Trending Recipes

    Popular recipes on Kitchen and Other Stories right now.

    • How To Make Orange Tuile
    • Soya Tofu Alternative - Gluten-Free Vegan Gram Flour Paneer / Tofu
    • Simple Homemade Harissa Recipe With Foraged Rose Petals
    • An Easy Guide To Make Homemade Plum Wine, Inspired by Umeshu Plum Liqueur

    Summer Salads

    Perfect for hot summer days. A plateful of colour and taste.

    • The Best Vegan Recipe For Asian 'Duck' And Watermelon salad
    • Beetroot & Peach Salad With Feta Cheese & Baby Spinach
    • Easy Potato And Greens Salad With An Indian Pickle Dressing
    • Easy Kohlrabi, Grapefruit and Baked Feta Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms of use
    • Cookie Policy

    Connect

    • TikTok
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact

    • Contact / Work With Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    Copyright © 2022 Kitchen And Other Stories

    Foodie Pro theme from Feast Design Co. Built on Genesis Framework. Powered by Wordpress