While not among the best-known herbs, this slightly bitter, somewhat lemony delicacy can be used in salads and as a unique way to add flavor to soups.
Why is sorrel bitter?
Sorrel’s purported properties as a tenderizer and aid to digestion are related to its abundance of oxalic acid. This natural chemical gives sorrel its tart citrus flavor. Because of its load of oxalic acid, sorrel should not be cooked in unlined aluminum or cast iron. It will turn black in color and nasty in taste.
Does sorrel taste bitter?
Like many other spring greens (like broccoli rabe or stinging neetles), sorrel has a pronounced flavor. You wouldn’t want to eat just a salad of sorrel, so mix young leaves with milder lettuces. Blanching also helps tone down the bitterness.
What kind of herb is sorrel?
Sorrel is a leafy green plant, use alternately as an herb and a vegetable, with a distinctive sour, lemony flavor. It’s from the knotweed family, or Polygonaceae, the same botanical family as buckwheat and rhubarb. It also goes by the name “dock.”
What does sorrel herb taste like?
Used interchangeably as an herb and salad green, sorrel is a flavorful ingredient known for its sour, acidic taste reminiscent of lemon zest. The name sorrel, which comes from the French word surele and Germanic word sur, both meaning sour, is fitting of this notably tangy produce.
What does sorrel do to the body?
Sorrel is a great source of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that protect your cells from damage by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Antioxidants may help prevent many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes ( 6 ).
What is another name for sorrel?
spinach dock
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock (‘dock’ being a common name for the genus Rumex).
Is Hibiscus and sorrel the same?
In the Caribbean, the popular terms are hibiscus or sorrel, as it is made from the hibiscus sabdariffa flower. The plant is native to India, but can grow as an annual in all climates. The fleshy, red calyxes that surround the base of the flowers are what we brew to make sorrel, the drink.
Can sorrel be eaten raw?
If you’ve never tried sorrel, be prepared to pucker up. This spring green is packed with potent astringency and a lemony, citrus-like flavor. It bump up the acidic quality of salads (just use less vinegar or lemon juice), and is great eaten raw.
Is sorrel safe to eat?
As Food. You can eat the stalks, flowers, and leaves, raw or cooked. They have a fresh, lemony flavour that makes them perfect for mixed salads. In South Australia, wood sorrel is known as ‘soursob’ and is a common snack for children on their way to school.
Does sorrel lower blood sugar?
Flavonoids in Sorrel:
It helps to lower blood sugar. It helps decrease the cholesterol of ‘poor cholesterol’ or low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and boost ‘healthy cholesterol’ or high-density lipoproteins (HDL).
How often should you drink sorrel?
BY MOUTH: For sinus infections: A specific combination product containing 36 mg of sorrel, plus 12 mg of gentian root, and 36 mg each of European elder flower, verbena, and cowslip flower three times daily.
Can you use sorrel instead of spinach?
If you do not like the taste of spinach, we have good news for you. We got you a substitute of spinach which is also extremely high in nutrients. Sorrel leaves are very similar to spinach leaves and kale and contain chock-full of nutrients.
Does sorrel taste like spinach?
Spinach and Sorrel are two different leaves even though they are from the same plant family and have similar appearances. Raw sorrel leaves have a sour and acidic taste while raw spinach leaves have a sweet and mild flavor.
Is sorrel the same as spinach?
Sorrel, also known as spinach dock, is quite similar to spinach in appearance, and similarly chock-full of nutrients.
Is sorrel toxic to humans?
Red sorrel is considered safe for human consumption as a fresh herb or when boiled, but there is potential for poisoning of livestock. Species of Rumex owe their toxicity to soluble oxalates.
What happens if you drink too much sorrel?
Sorrel is possibly unsafe when consumed in large amounts. Large amounts might increase the risk of developing kidney stones, or damage the liver or stomach.
Is sorrel a detox?
Sorrel can be used as a detoxifying food as it is rich in vitamin C. Sorrel is an excellent diuretic and purgative since it contains flavonoids and other antioxidants. This aids in the elimination of toxic poisons from the body.
Where is sorrel originated from?
West Africa
Like many popular plants grown in the Caribbean region, sorrel has its origins in West Africa. Known as Roselle, or less by its scientific name ‘Hibiscus sabdariffa’, sorrel is a species of the Hibiscus family. It bears annually, maturing in about six months and growing to about 7–8 ft.
What is the word sorrel mean?
The word sorrel is a homograph with two distinct meanings. It can mean either a reddish brown color (or a horse with that coloring) or any of various plants with sour juice. Both words came via French, and are ultimately from different Germanic roots.
What is another name for sorrel in Jamaica?
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus sabdariffa also known as Roselle and Jamaican Sorrel is not indigenous to Jamaica. In fact, it is found all around the world. It is a species of hibiscus that includes okra hollyhock and Rose of Sharon among other species.