Edible Plants - Thistle

Novya got behind on her reports for her edible plants class.  Her goal was a lesson every other week.  So, until she catches up we'll have a few closer together than that.



Logan and I are interested in this subject, too.  So, she tries out her information on Logan and I before handing it in to her instructor.  Once in a while our questions help her think of something else to add into her reports.

Today's lesson is on the Thistle.  Most of a thistle is good for food.

The most popular thistle for eating is the Milk Thistle (or Holy Thistle).  It is easy to recognize and is found in most states in the US. 

Some other edible thistles are the Canada Thistle (or Creeping Thistle)

 
The Bull Thistle which has a large hollow stem with a sugar cane like taste.



 
The Indian Thistle which grows abundantly in the state of Washington.




The Leafy Thistle (Dwarf or Picnic Thistle).

Thistles are best in the spring when they are tender.  However young plants can sometimes be found later in the season. 

The roots are best boiled or roasted. They contain the starch inulun and break down into sugar when cooked.  Once they are cooked they can also be dried and ground into flour.

Collecting thistle roots and grinding into flour sounds a lot quicker and easier than getting enough dandelion seeds or cattail seeds to make flour.

The roots of unbolted (not yet flowered) young plants can be good in the fall.  However, they may cause gas.

The stems and the veins in the leaves are edible raw after peeling to remove the stickers.  Usually, the bottom half of the stems are too stringy to be good.  You might want to throw them away.

Raw the peeled stems can be used in salads like rhubarb or asparagus.  Or they can be eaten like celery.

The leaf itself can be eaten once the barbs are removed.  Raw it is good in salads as another green.  Cooked it is a good spinach replacement.

Immature flower heads are edible raw.  But, most people prefer them steamed.


And thistle seeds can be roasted for use as a coffee substitute.


It would be good to check out the thistles in your area to find out what kinds you have and to make sure they are edible.

And before eating any wild plant make sure it's not growing where it has been sprayed with insecticide or weed killer.