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I love a good carrot, many of the carrots that we have access to in the supermarkets are very bland in comparison to the real deal. The wild carrot root has such a strong carrot smell and taste.
It is best to harvest the roots in their first year of growth as they are less fibrous. The roots make a super edition to soups and stews as a flavour enhancer but can be much too tough to chew so are best taken out before serving.
You can also make use of the leaves and flowers too. The leaves are great in salads and have a carrot flavour and the flowers are brilliant deep fried in batter.
They can be found inland but are much more fond of the coast. The coastline here in Dorset is teaming with them.
They also have a long history of medical use. They’re used for urinary tract problems including kidney stones, bladder problems and water retention. It was once a go to plant for contraception amongst women and is well documented for that use.
Scientific name: Daucus carota
Happy Foraging!