Probably the most significant aspect of this beverage is that it's not made from the Sheep's Sorrel Plant -- this is just a name that it has acquired all over Appalachia, due to the use and misuse of common names of plants. It grows in the garden, in flower beds, and generally all around the yard. The genus occurs throughout most of the world, except for the polar areas; species diversity is particularly rich in tropical Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.. Wood sorrel can be added to salads, used in soups, sauces and it can also be used as a seasoning. Wood sorrel whipped into butter makes a lemony-butter that goes great on bread, fish, and crawfish. WOOD SORREL (Oxalis stricta) Often mistaken for clover, wood sorrel has 3 folded heart-shaped leaves; while clover leaves, also in sets of 3 (unless you’re lucky!) Oxalis / ˈ ɒ k s ə l ɪ s / (American English) or / ɒ k s ˈ ɑː l ɪ s / (British English) is a large genus of flowering plants in the wood-sorrel family Oxalidaceae comprising about 570 species. Wood sorrel also makes a lovely tea—simply steep a generous helping of leaves in boiling water for at least 15 to 20 minutes, then sweeten if desired. Wild or wood sorrel is different than the broad leaf sorrel (ruminex acetosa) that I wrote about earlier this year. Throw 1/2 cup of chopped wood sorrel into a can of cream of mushroom soup if you want to tick off Poland (sorry, you'll have tp take my class in person to get that full story! Yellow wood sorrel has green leaves and small yellow flower buds. are oval-shaped. Some other species of wood sorrel have darker purple leaves and pink or violet flowers. Wood Sorrel Recipes "Medicinal" tea: To 1 heaping tbsp. Wood sorrel can act as a diuretic for some people, so don’t go overboard with it in tea form if you’re unsure whether it behaves this way with you. This tea is actually made from the Violet Wood Sorrel plant, Oxalis violacea. It's sometimes mistaken for clover but wood sorrel's sour, lemony flavor and heart-shaped, folded leaves set it apart. Wood sorrel tea when cooled can make a refreshing beverage especially when sweetened with honey. At least around our place. In moderate dosages, wood sorrel is cooling (refrigerant, febrifuge), diuretic, stomachic (soothing to the stomach, relieves indigestion), astringent, and catalytic. The sour leaves are delicious eaten as a garden snack but I also like to add them to salads and use as edible wild garnishes. In any case, Sheep's Sorrel Tea tastes like the best tropical fruit punch you ever had. ). Lately I have started making wild sorrel tea and that couldn't be easier. The sour leaves are delicious eaten as a garden snack but I also like to add them to salads and use as edible wild garnishes. Wood sorrel is one of those "weeds" that, once you've got it, you've got it everywhere.