I LOVE red clover!! When I was little, my Great Aunt would pick them and we would sit in the field watching clouds eating the sweet nectar out of the flowers. We have a lot of it growing here, but I only get to make one or two batches a year. I don't want to take away too much for the bees!
PLEASE NOTE: I have read in several places thatingestingred clover could be harmful if you are on bloodthinners or already have thin blood. Please consult with your doctor before consuming any kind of clover or any other wild plant.
Here is the recipe........
Here is what you'll need:
4 Cups Red Clover Flower Petals
Saucepan
Optional: Stock Pot
Cheesecloth or Small hole strainer
4 Cups Water
3 Tbs. Lemon Juice
4 Cups Sugar
1 Package LIQUID Pectin
5 - 1/2 Pint Jars, lids and seals
NOTE: This will make 2 batches! You can NOT double the recipe, the jelly wont set properly.
1.The first thing you need to do is find the red clover. I live in the country, so all I have to do is walk to my field. I have seen it along roads too. You'll need to pick about 6-8 cups of the flower heads.
NOTE: You can use the whole head if you like. I just like to use the petals for the jelly.
2.Once you have them all picked, give them a rinse in cool water. You don't want any dirt or bugs in your Jelly!
3.After rinsing, you will need to take the petals off. You grasp the tops the the petals holding the bottom green part with the other hand and gently pull.
Your hands will get sticky doing this!
This is what it looks like after you pull all the petals off...some are hard to get off or they have turned brown. It's OK to leave those.
4.After you get all of the petals, grab a sauce pan that will comfortably hold 4 cups of water. Bring that to a boil and add all of the flowers. Let it steep in the covered pot overnight.
This is what it looks like (yuck!)
5.Now is a great time to wash all of your jars and lids, make sure they dry thoroughly. If you want, you can also put them in a water bath to sterilize them.
Congratulations!!!! You made a Red Clover water infusion!!!!!
NOTE: The infusion will be a nasty looking brown color. Don't worry, you haven't done anything wrong if you followed the steps so far!
6.Put the whole mixture in the cheesecloth or strainer and get out as much liquid as you can. If you don't have either, you can use a regular strainer lined with coffee filters and use your hands to squeeze out the liquid.
7.Put your seals in a small sauce pan covered with water and bring to a boil
8.Now carefully measure out 2 cups of the infusion and add it back to the sauce pan or to a stock pot (I always use a stock pot, it helps to keep it from boiling over) over high heat.
9.Add 4 cups of sugar
10.Add the 3 Tbs. of Lemon Juice
Now look how pretty the color turned!!! The acid in the lemon juice restored the color!!
11.Stir the mixture to make sure all of the sugar has been incorporated into the water, and bring to a full rolling boil that cant be stirred down.
12.Add the liquid pectin. (There is instructions for use and recipes in every box of pectin)
NOTE: I usually use the powder brand, but every time I made this with the powder, it never set. I made it with the liquid and never had an issue. So the liquid is my preference here, but feel free to use what ever brand you like!
13.Once you add the pectin, stir constantly for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
14.Ladle or pour into your jars, add the seal, and screw on the ring tight!
15.This step is optional; After you have all the jars filled, add all of the jars to a water bath and boil for 5 minutes. Take out the jars and let them set overnight up to 24 hours.
16.Make sure the seals set. You can tell by pressing on the top of the lid listening for a popping sound. If you don't hear it, they set. You might also hear a popping sound when they seal. If they DIDN'T seal, you can give them a water bath. If you did that and they still didn't seal, you may have hard water (mineral deposits in your water), like I do, and have to buy water from the store. :(
That's it!! Now you should have a pretty jar of Red Clover Jelly!!!
FAQs
It contains isoflavones genistein and daidzein (also phytoestrogens) which can reduce hot flashes, retain bone density, and improve blood sugar regulation in menopausal women (4). Red clover can also improve menstrual irregularities by regulating testosterone and estrogen metabolism.
What can you do with red clover? ›
Traditionally, red clover ointments have been applied to the skin to treat psoriasis, eczema, and other rashes. Red clover has also been used as a cough remedy for children. More recently, studies have shown that women using red clover may experience psychological benefits.
How to prepare red clover? ›
Red clover can be infused in hot water to make a delicious herbal tea. To make, pour hot water over 1-3 teaspoons of red clover, and let steep for 10-15 minutes. This tea has a natural light sweetness to it, but you can add honey if desired. Because the flowers are edible, you can also use them to brighten up a salad.
Is clover jelly good? ›
It's really very tasty. But perhaps more important than all of that, it's just fun! There's something so darn special about picking a bunch of pretty flower blossoms in the early summer, and turning them into a gorgeous pink-hued jelly to place on your table when you have a friend over for an afternoon visit.
Who should not take red clover? ›
Red clover might act like estrogen, which could affect hormone balances during pregnancy or breast-feeding. Don't use it. Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Red clover might act like estrogen.
Is red clover an anti-inflammatory? ›
This indicates that the anti-inflammatory effects of anthocyanins of red clover may be mediated by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Can humans eat red clover? ›
Culinary use and recipes with Red Clover
Both leaves and flowers are edible. The blossoms have a gentle and sweet taste with a hint of bean flavour when eaten raw. Break up the flower heads and sprinkle the blossoms into salads. They are also a good addition in baking and look beautiful as a garnish.
What part of red clover do you eat? ›
All parts of the clover plant appear to be edible, although the seed pods are generally reserved for animal feed. Clover blossoms are used to make teas and jellies, while the leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.
How to harvest red clover for medicinal purposes? ›
And in addition to being a tasty ingredient, red clover blossoms have been used medicinally across Asia, Europe, and North America to aid with respiratory, digestive, and skin issues. Harvest red clover by picking the flowerheads and small top leaves before any part of the flower begins to turn brown.
What is the difference between clover and red clover? ›
Although each clover has a different advantage, Because red clover tends to fix more nitrogen than white clover, it can better fertilize your soil for other grasses. This is one benefit of using clover. The more clover nitrogen fixing, your grass will be healthier and require less natural fertilizer.
Enjoy! I air dry red clover every year and keep in plastic sealed bags. Make iced tea with it using 6 cups water and 2 decaf tea bags, adding the mint and red clover. Very good for you and tastes great!
Is red clover safe for men? ›
Supplementation with isoflavones (from soy or red clover) for up to 1 year has not been found to affect hormone levels in men, including testosterone, estrogen, or sex hormone binding globulin.
What are the medicinal uses of clover? ›
Historically, red clover was used for asthma, whooping cough, cancer, and gout. Today, extracts from red clover are most often promoted for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels, or osteoporosis.
Is clover edible to humans? ›
What you might not know about this so-called "lucky plant" is that in addition to being a common ground covering, clover is often used as a medicinal herb. Clover is both edible and potentially beneficial to your health. You can eat the leaves in salad or boil the blossoms to make tea.
What is perfect jelly? ›
Jelly should be clear or translucent and firm enough to hold its shape when turned out of the container. Jams are thick, sweet spreads, which will hold their shape, but are less firm than jelly. They are made from crushed or chopped fruits and sugar.
How long does it take for red clover to work? ›
How long does it take for Red Clover to work? This may depend on what you are taking Red Clover for. Some studies have had effective results in as little as 4 weeks, others went on for 12 weeks.
Does red clover help with weight loss? ›
Red Clover Tea Benefits Weight Loss
Red clover tea has also been linked to weight loss. One study found that individuals who drank red clover tea twice a day for 6 weeks lost more body fat than those who did not drink the tea. The researchers believe this effect is due to the presence of polyphenols in red clover.
Does red clover increase testosterone? ›
Testosterone levels showed greater increases in red clover-treated patients, compared to the control groups (pooled MD 0.083; 95% CI: -0.560 to 0.726; p=0.901; heterogeneity p=0.068; I2=69%; 150 women; random effects model; 2 trials) (Geller et al., 2008 ▶, Hidalgo et al., 2005 ▶., which was not statistically ...
When should I drink red clover? ›
Red clover supplements have been promoted for menopause symptoms and osteoporosis. Historically, red clover was used for asthma, whooping cough, cancer, and gout. Today, extracts from red clover are most often promoted for menopause symptoms, high cholesterol levels, or osteoporosis.
