Sorrel The Wonder Herb

Why I Love Growing and Eating Sorrel – A Tangy Garden Gem with Real Health Benefits

Sorrel is hands down one of my favourite herbs – and once you’ve tasted it, you’ll know why. It’s fresh, zesty, and adds a bright lemony zing to almost any dish. Even better, it’s incredibly easy to grow in your home garden.

A hardy perennial, sorrel belongs to the dock family, and just like its weedy cousins, it tends to take off! But don’t let that put you off – it’s much easier to manage. Simply dig up the taproots if it starts to spread more than you’d like.

The flavour of sorrel is something quite special. Think lemon with a subtle tang and a hint of green. It has that mouth-watering sharpness that cuts through rich dishes beautifully and instantly lifts a simple salad. I love tossing young sorrel leaves through fresh greens for a zippy salad, or stirring it into soups, pestos, or sauces. One of my absolute favourites is adding it to a Lemon Basil Risotto – it complements the citrus notes perfectly and adds a depth of flavour that’s truly unique.

It also works well as a palate cleanser – a few leaves eaten between courses or even as a snack can freshen up your mouth and digestion.

In my opinion, it tastes absolutely wonderful!

### A Nutritional Powerhouse in Leafy Form

Aside from its amazing taste, sorrel brings a lot to the table nutritionally. It’s a great source of dietary fibre and packed with key vitamins and minerals. Sorrel contains:

* **Vitamin A** – great for skin health, immune function, and vision
* **Vitamin B6** – supports metabolism and brain function
* **Vitamin C** – a well-known antioxidant that helps with immune health and collagen production
* **Folate** – essential for cell function and tissue growth
* **Minerals** – including magnesium, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and small amounts of copper and zinc

Not bad for a humble green herb, right?

But that’s not all – sorrel also contains tannins, which have a drying effect that can be helpful when you’re feeling under the weather. If you’re coming down with a cold or dealing with a chesty cough, adding a bit of sorrel to your meals might help reduce mucus production. It’s also said to help ease inflammation in the nasal passages and respiratory tract – which is especially welcome during winter sniffle season.

A Small Word of Caution

Like spinach and silverbeet, sorrel does contain oxalic acid, a naturally occurring compound that can interfere with calcium absorption and may contribute to kidney stones if consumed in large amounts. So, if you have a history of kidney issues or rheumatic conditions, it’s best not to overdo it. That said, enjoying it in moderation – as with most herbs – is perfectly fine for most people.

Easy to Grow, Delicious to Eat

If you’ve got a sunny spot in the garden or even a large pot, give sorrel a go. It’s relatively drought-tolerant once established and will reward you with lush, tangy leaves year-round. Just harvest a few leaves at a time and let the plant keep producing – it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

In a world of fancy superfoods and expensive supplements, sometimes the best health boosters are the ones you can grow yourself – fresh, local, and full of flavour. Sorrel is one of those quiet achievers in the herb garden, and once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it.

Have you tried sorrel before? Let me know your favourite ways to use it – I’m always keen to try new ideas in the kitchen!