Unexpectedly, red clover graced my herb garden this spring! In this video I delight in wildcrafting this delicious and medicinal herb. In addition, I share the story of how wild elderberries are growing on our two acre homestead.
Want to know how to dry red clover? You’ve come to the right place! Everything you need to know about drying this herb is explained below.
FAQs
Yes, it’s a good idea to rinse before dehydrating to be sure there isn’t dirt and other debris clinging to the blossoms.
After the blossoms are dehydrated, cooled, and placed into glass jars – it’s important to keep an eye of them for a few days to be sure that the final product remains dry. This is the conditioning process.
During this time, if any of the clover still contains moisture, the rest of the blossoms will equally absorb this moisture. As long as the jar and contents stay dry, then this is not a problem. If the jar develops condensation this is a sign there is too much moisture remaining, and the batch needs to go back into the dehydrator.
While conditioning, gently shake the jars and turn them all around. If the blossoms are sticking to each other this is also a sign that there is too much moisture left, and you need to send them back to the dehydrator.
Yes, it can be dried on a screen or on a tray that contains holes. For best results, prop up the screen or tray so there is good air flow all around the blossoms. Always dry herbs out of direct sunlight. It will take about 3 days to fully dry this way. If the humidity is high, it will take even longer. When ready, the blossoms will be fully dry and almost crunchy. Condition as described above, then store in a cool, dry, and dark location.
Drying Red Clover
Equipment
- dehydrator
Ingredients
- Freshly picked red clover blossoms
Instructions
- Put the red clover blossoms into a bowl of cold water. Swish, lift up the clover, and drain the water. Repeat this step one or two times, until the water stays clear.
- Place the clover between two towels and blot dry.
- Arrange on your dehydrator's shelves, single layer and spaced apart.
- Set your dehydrator to the lowest setting (between 95° and 110ºF).
- Periodically, rotate the trays in case your dehydrator has hot spots. Be more vigilant if your dehydrator doesn't have a circulating fan or thermostat.
- It will take about 4 hours for the blossoms to completely dry; they will feel almost crunchy when ready.
- Cool the blossoms completely, then place into tightly capped glass jars; keep out of direct sunlight.
- Condition the dehydrated red clover for 3 – 4 days. Shake and turn the jars daily to be sure the blossoms aren't sticking togeter. If condensation develops in a jar, return the blossoms to the dehydrator.
- Once conditioned, you can pack the jars more tightly. Label with the name of the herb and the date, then store in a cool, dry, and dark location.