In summer, the magnificent Burdock, when mature,
can be found growing to the height of a small adult human
in fields and open spaces
It's furry leaves can grow to the size of dinner plates and
eventually, it's small purple flowers turn into spiky fruits or 'burrs'
However, the plant dies right back in the winter
leaving only leaves growing close to the ground
so take note of where your burdock was growing in the summer
so that you know where to harvest the precious roots in winter
You will need to dig deep to pull out these much-prized roots
eaten throughout the northern hemisphere
as a valuable winter carbohydrate
Burdock root has a long tradition
of being used to boost immunity as an anti-viral
as well as by helping the liver to work more effiiently
it is used to help relieve sore throats and swollen glands
and through it's powerful action on the liver
it helps improved the entire digestion
and helps to relieve constipation
it is also tradtionally used to treat deep seated and stuborn cases of eczema and psoriasis
Here is a really nice Japanese recipe for preparing burdock root
Once you have your fresh burdock root,
wash with a brush to remove all the dirt and dry it
Then, using a potato peeler, shred the burdock root
into 2-4cm lengths - like peeling a carrot
Put these cuttings onto a baking tray and turn the oven
and turn the oven onto its lowest setting
Gas Mark 1, 140C, 275F
Put your tray on the lowest shelf and leave for 3-4 hours
When the shredded roots are dried, transfer them to a frying pan
and dry fry them on low-to-medium heat until golden brown
No oil at all is used, just heat
When this is done, store your dried roots
in an airtight container until you need them
There's no need to refrigerate them
just keep them in a dark, cool place
and they should keep for at least a year
With this recipe, the burdock root pieces are so thin
that you can use them as you would a tea
scoop up what you can between your first two fingers and thumb
drop in a teapot and add boiling water
Infuse for 5-10 minutes, strain and drink warm