Non-Medicinal Uses for Cleavers

Cleavers is an important plant in medicinal herbalism, however you can use it in other ways as well.

I'm a big fan of Delena Tull's book Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest (University of Texas Press 1987)—it's full of historical uses of the plants around us, particularly if you live in my part of the country. Here are some of the ways you can dine on cleavers:

• The very young plant tips aren't that sticky, so you can add these fresh to salads.
• Tender leaves and stems can be simmered in a small amount of water and served as a vegetable with a little butter and lemon juice. This may not work with older plants as the stickers may not soften up.
• According to Tull, Euell Gibbons, naturalist and author of Stalking the Healthful Herbs (David McKay 1966), suggests that the small fruits can be roasted and made into a suitable coffee substitute. Take them off the stem with gloves and roast them in an oven until dark brown. Grind them in a coffee grinder and make "coffee" as normal.