How to Make White Clover Tea (Hot or Iced)

White clover tea is a beautiful drink made with the fresh delicate white blossoms of the clover plant. Let’s learn how to forage these flowers for tea and make a delicious cup!

White clover tea is a fairly new tea to me, but my husband has been drinking it for a while now. In my part of the world, it is spring, and with that comes the blooming of all sorts of flowers that many call weeds. But a lot of those weeds are important plants for wildlife, and the planet, and some are even edible and delicious for humans like the dandelion and wild violets. 

While white clover isn’t as popular or well-known as red clover, it is more abundant in my yard and easily available! 

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What is White Clover?

White clover (Trifolium repens) is a species of legume and a member of the Fabaceae family. It is native to Europe, but it has since been naturalized in many parts of the world, including North America and Australia. White clover is a perennial herbaceous plant with small white flowers that can be found in lawns, pastures, and meadows.

Mild Spring Floral Taste of White Clover Blossoms

Have you ever wondered what white clover tea tastes like? White clover tea has a mild, spring-like floral taste. Delicious! Its delicate flavor is slightly sweet with a pleasant aroma and an underlying earthy note. White clover tea also has hints of grassy and hay-like notes that come through as it brews.

Foraging and Preparing White Clover Blossoms for Tea

While it may seem daunting at first to forage for these delicate flowers in the wild, it can be done with a few simple steps and a bit of preparation! 

• To begin, you’ll need to find an area with plenty of healthy white clover blossoms. They can be found in meadows, fields, or even in your own yard. Make sure you’re harvesting from a site free of pesticides, chemicals, or anything harmful to human consumption. Pick from places you know and trust! 
• Use a field guide or ask your local naturalist to help you identify white clover. There are many look-alikes in nature and some are poisonous to humans.
• Once you’ve located the flowers, you will need to pick them carefully and then rinse them off with cool water to remove any debris or insects. Pick several handfuls of fresh white clover blossoms for your cup of tea!
• Avoid browning blossoms, or any with discoloration, wilt, or plant damage.
• Remove the stems and any green bits left on the blossom after picking them. 
• Harvest only in the spring before the weather becomes too hot.

How to Make White Clover Tea

Helpful Kitchen Supplies

• Knife and Cutting Board
• Colander
• Tea Ball (optional)
• Teapot
• Kettle

Ingredients

• Fresh White Clover Blossoms
• Water
• Honey
• Lemon
• Mint or other complimentary herbals

White Clover Tea Recipe

Here are two white clover blossom tea recipes for making either hot or iced white clover blossom tea. 

Hot White Clover Tea Recipe

1. Thoroughly rinse and check your flowers for any bugs or dirt. Then using a pairing knife remove the flowers from the rest of the plant.

2. Warm up the teapot by bringing water to a boil on the stovetop or in an electric kettle. Pour a bit of hot water around in your teapot to warm it up. Discard the water.

3. Add white clover flowers to the teapot.

4. Pour hot water over white clover blossoms.

5. Fit the lid onto the teapot and steep for 5 minutes.

6. If you are using an infuser or tea ball, simply remove it from the teapot once the tea is finished steeping. if you are not using an infuser use a tea strainer to strain out flowers before serving.

7. Add honey to taste if desired.  

8. Enjoy your delicious cup of white clover tea!

White Clover Iced Tea Recipe

To make a white clover iced tea follow the instructions above for making hot tea. After you have strained out the white clover blossoms, allow the tea to fully cool. You can do this in the refrigerator to speed things up a bit! 

Once the tea is cold, pour over ice and enjoy!

Tips for making iced white clover tea:

• Add sweetener before refrigerating tea. Honey incorporates better when the tea is still warm from steeping.
• Make a stronger tea by using twice the amount of blossoms you would for hot tea. This can help with a watered-down taste if you are serving over ice.

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Source your White Clover Blossoms from a chemical-free location you know and trust
• Use Filtered Water for your Tea
• Sweeten with a bit of honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar.
• Add more flavor by steeping with mint or ginger.
• Garnish and add more flavor with lemon.

Shelf Life

To ensure the best quality, it’s important to store white clover correctly and keep track of its shelf life:

• Dried White clover blossoms should be stored in a dry, sterile, air-tight container, in a cool place away from heat and light.
• For fresh blossoms, brew tea immediately. 
• Once brewed, the tea can be stored in a refrigerator for a few days. (but mine is always consumed before that long!)

Does White Clover Tea Contain Caffeine?

White clover tea is an herbal tea with a light and delicate floral flavor, derived from the blossoms of the white clover plant. Unlike traditional true teas, it does not contain caffeine, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a caffeine-free beverage. Since there’s no caffeine in white clover tea, it won’t leave you feeling jittery or anxious like some caffeinated beverages can!

White Clover Benefits

White clover tea is a great source of many vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall health including vitamin C, iron, fiber, and protein. Much more research is needed but some studies suggest that white clover may be beneficial to promote wound healing and in protecting against some forms of cancer. 

White Clover Tea Side Effects

White clover tea is an edible drink made from white clover blossoms. In general, white clover tea is completely edible to drink, but always in moderation and in small amounts. It is always best to consult with your trusted health professional before making any changes to your wellness routine. People who are allergic to other legumes may also be allergic to white clover and should avoid drinking this tea. Additionally, it is suggested that white clover tea should be avoided by people who take blood thinners.

FAQs

• Is White Clover Poisonous? White Clover is generally considered safe to consume as an herbal tea. However, there are some precautions that should be taken. As with any plant-based product, it is important to be aware of the potential for allergies. People with allergies to other legumes should also avoid white clover tea. Check with your medical professional first!
• Is White Clover Medicinal? White clover has long been used for medicinal purposes. Although more research is needed, it is often consumed as an herbal tea for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Is White Clover Tea Good for You? Drinking white clover tea in moderation can certainly provide a variety of potential health benefits, vitamins, and minerals.
• What is White Clover Tea Good For? White clover tea is a beverage that has been used for centuries to promote health and wellness. The tea has believed anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a good choice for those looking for their overall health.
• Is White Clover Edible for Humans? White clover (Trifolium repens) is a member of the legume family, and as such, it is edible for humans! The flowers are considered the most desirable.

MORE HERBAL TEAS YOU WILL LOVE!

• Pine Needle Tea
• Sage Tea
• Oregano Tea
• Garlic Tea
• Apple Tea
• Iced Chamomile Tea
• Hot Chamomile Tea
• Chamomile Tea Latte

I hope you enjoy this tea recipe. Leave a comment below and let’s connect!