Wood avens- Geum urbanum

Ask any forager and they will tell you there is not much to forage in January. The winter months are characterised by plants being dormant and waiting the spring temperatures to set forth new growth and allow us to continue our foraging adventures.

There are however some few plants that can be foraged in the midst of winter. One of them is Wood Avens (or Geum urbanun). It grows prolifically on the margins of paths and roads and is characterised by a lobed leaves with paired leaves underneath.

The leaves are also covered in fine hairs and their shape becomes more angular as the plant flowers.

The leaves can be eaten in a salad although they don’t have much of a taste and can be used as a filler rather than a key ingredient.

The true magic of the wood avens lies in its roots. The roots have an amazing and strong smell of cloves.

This offers wood avens a huge culinary potential. The roots can be dried and powdered (although the longer they stay powdered the softer the smell so it is best to powder them just before you use them), boiled in water, made into a flavoured tincture and added to a multitude of dishes where cloves are asked for (check out this Wood avens hot chocolate and this wood avens syrup recipe!)

There are also many medicinal properties attributed to this plant. According to PFAF “wood avens is an astringent herb, used principally to treat problems affecting the mouth, throat and gastro-intestinal tract. It tightens up soft gums, heals mouth ulcers, makes a good gargle for infections of the pharynx and larynx, and reduces irritation of the stomach and gut…An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, intestinal disorders, stomach upsets, irritable bowel syndrome and liver disorders, it is also applied externally as a wash to haemorrhoids, vaginal discharges etc and to treat various skin afflictions – it is said to remove spots, freckles and eruptions from the face”

The root is best harvested in spring when the eugenol which is the substance that gives it its aroma, is at its peak in the roots.

According to folklore wood avens was used to ward away evil spirits and was worn as an amulet.

So next time you are walking on a woodland path, look closely for this fantastic plant. Can you think of any other culinary uses for it?