I was babysitting some kids and they started eating them and telling me how good they tasted. The kids are fine, but i was wonderign if anybody actually cooked them.
2007-06-24 12:32:45 · 10 answers · asked by upinbubbles 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Curious Orange is right that clovers can contain prussic acid (cyanide), which is extremely poisonous in large enough doses.
However, not all varieties or species of clover do produce it -- and even for those that do, I think you'd have to eat an awful lot to get poisoned.
Not sure quite how much, but I'd guess far more than the average kid would pick before getting bored. Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) also has cyanide, and can' t have much more than clover. The toxic dose for this for a sheep is 0.2 kg, or half a pound or so. That would be a lot of clover leaves for a child!
I'd be more worried about parasites, especially if there are dogs or cats around. Some of these, such as Toxocaria (a dog or cat roundworm), can harm people.
I have heard of clover being used as human food. As I recall it was during a famine in Afghanistan or Pakistan. However the species was not mentioned -- it may have been a special type, or perhaps not even a clover proper -- for example lucerne (alfafa) or something similar.
Personally, I don't like clover all that much -- just tastes of greenery. Might try some in a salad next time though...
By the way, there is also cyanide in some other things which one might possibly try to eat. For example, the pips of apple and plum -- though again, you'd probably have to eat unrealistic quantities to be poisoned (I recall a story of a man who ate a cup of apple pips and did become ill). Almonds don't have cyanide in them though.
2007-06-25 00:50:51 · answer #1 · answered by richard_new_forester 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Clover Edible
2016-12-17 06:44:20 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Edible Clover
2016-11-12 21:29:02 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but they should be washed, as Clover grows on the ground where parasites and viruses live! Don't take a chance on ingesting these harmful buggers.
2007-06-24 12:37:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The flowers have nectar rich in sugar.
That's why bees like them.
You can put the flowers in a pot of water to make a tea.
I find the red clover flowers sweeter than white.
I chew the flowers for the sugar and then spit them out.
You should really wash them before eating them.
2007-06-24 12:56:19 · answer #5 · answered by michael971 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO!!! most of the other people who answered this question don't know what they are talking about! clover leaves contain high concentrations of prussic acid which causes severe stomach cramps if enough is eaten. if they only eat the flowers i think that's okay.
2007-06-24 14:43:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are certainly not "inedible"....although i don't think any specific recipies would call for them...and i highly doubt that 3 leaf clovers have any "distinct" taste that would be different than other plants....so i don't think that it would have much culinary use...but they are certainly not dangerous....probably not great tasting seeing what animals could have peed on it.....dirt on it etc....but it's not dangerous.....
maybe in ireland they cook them...haha
2007-06-24 12:42:53 · answer #7 · answered by Yogaflame 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, but they wouldn't do a whole lot for you lol.
2016-03-19 04:35:50 · answer #8 · answered by Allyson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are edible but bad luck for anyone who does.
2007-06-24 12:41:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I believe they can be used in food and for teas depending on the variety.
2007-06-24 12:36:36 · answer #10 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋