The short answer is … yes you can eat Japanese knotweed. And actually, eating Japanese knotweed may have some health benefits as the plant contains resveratrol, a natural defence against cognitive disorders, heart disease and high blood pressure. You can even buy Japanese knotweed supplements!
Harvesting Japanese knotweed
The best time to harvest Japanese knotweed is in the spring, before the stems become too woody. According to recipes for cocktails, pies and crumbles we’ve found online, Japanese knotweed tastes like a citrus-flavoured rhubarb.
The risk of spreading
Sadly, eating Japanese knotweed won’t simply turn a problem into pie. The risk of spreading the invasive weed is far greater when we start manhandling it, as that’s when it chips away and spreads further afield.
Abiding by Japanese knotweed law
You are not breaking the law by having Japanese knotweed in your garden, but it is a crime to allow knotweed to spread onto any land that’s not your own. Oddly, this means you can cook Japanese knotweed crumble in your own kitchen, but if you take your tasty treat elsewhere you’re technically breaking the law!
Japanese knotweed disposal
Speaking of Japanese knotweed law, it’s illegal to put the plant in any of your household waste bins – even once it’s cooked. The only way to lawfully remove Japanese knotweed from your premises is by driving a registered vehicle to a registered landfill site. Usually, this whole process is left to the professionals (like TCM Knotweed Removal) who have the right documents, equipment and knowledge to remove Japanese knotweed without breaking the law or causing the plant to spread
Avoiding a toxic meal
Japanese knotweed is not toxic to humans or pets by itself. However, there is always the chance that the invasive weed in your garden has been treated with herbicide chemicals which are toxic to consume. Unless you can be absolutely certain your Japanese knotweed infestation has not been treated, we suggest you don’t eat it.
Unless you can be absolutely certain your Japanese knotweed infestation has not been treated, we suggest you don’t eat it.
In summary, Japanese knotweed is safe to eat, but at the risk of spreading it further, breaking the law or being poisoned, we definitely wouldn’t recommend it. Stick to good ol’ apple crumble instead!
Give us a call on 0330 6781077 to discuss removing Japanese knotweed from your property for good.
