Horsetail
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Horsetail is a reed-like plant characterized by its tall, slender, and jointed stems. In the early spring, it unfurls fertile shoots that are distinguished by their brown coloration and a cone-like structure at the tip, packed with spores. Once these spores are released, the shoots wither, giving way to separate dark green, vegetative shoots. These shoots, resembling a bottle brush due to their whorled branches, can reach heights of 20 to 30 centimeters. While Horsetail lacks a distinctive aroma, the young edible brown shoots are juicy, with a mild flavor reminiscent of asparagus.
Seasons/Availability
Horsetail plants are harvestable year-round, but they are best in late spring when their leaves are the brightest green.
Current Facts
Horsetail, scientifically known as Equisetum arvense, is a perennial plant that shares a lineage with ferns. It is part of the Equisetum genus and goes by several names including Field Horsetail, Snake Grass, Devil’s Guts, Horsetail Fern, Pinegrass, Meadow Pine, Foxtail Rush, and Marestail. Originating in the Paleozoic era, its colossal ancestors towered over the prehistoric landscape, while the modern version can be used for various medicinal and practical applications. Horsetail is used in skin, hair, and nail care products, thanks to its rich silica content. Traditionally, it has been used in folk medicine for its diuretic properties. When applied topically, Horsetail ointment is believed to enhance wound healing, while its extract, when combined with nail-hardening substances, has shown promise in reducing symptoms of nail psoriasis. The plant’s abrasive stems have historically been utilized as a natural sandpaper.
Nutritional Value
Horsetail has the highest silica content among all plants, a mineral that may bolster bone and cartilage health by improving collagen production and optimizing calcium absorption. Horsetail extract can potentially calm down certain immune cells that cause inflammation. It could lower blood sugar and help heal damaged parts of the pancreas.
Applications
Horsetail can be eaten raw, cooked, or boiled. The initial young shoots can serve as a substitute for asparagus. To prepare, they should be harvested close to the ground and the brown, papery sheath around each node should be removed. Horsetail is often brewed into a tea with a flavor reminiscent of Japanese green tea, or consumed in capsule or tincture form for its health benefits. The plant's tender sections between the nodes can be eaten fresh with a dip of oil, incorporated into stir-fries, or added to soups and sautés. Horsetail pairs well with butter, olive oil, lemon, hard cheeses, eggs, nuts, and mushrooms, particularly morels. Long-term alcohol consumers, individuals with Vitamin B deficiency, and pregnant or nursing women should steer clear of Horsetail to avoid potential health risks.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Horsetail has a long history as an herbal remedy, dating back to the Greek and Roman Empires. In the second century AD, the Greek physician and philosopher Galen recommended Horsetail for treating arthritis, kidney, and bladder issues. Native Americans praised its antimicrobial, diuretic, wound healing, and general health-promoting qualities. In traditional Chinese medicine, Horsetail is valued for its ability to reduce fever and treat eye inflammation as well as dysentery, flu, swelling, and hemorrhoids. Beyond its medicinal uses, people used Horsetails’ rough stems to scrub things like sticky resin from the wheels of hurdy-gurdies, a string instrument played with a hand-cranked wheel.
Geography/History
Horsetail is native to North America and Europe and is one of the only surviving species of the Equisetum genus from the Dinosaur era. It thrives in acidic, wet soil conditions and prefers full sunlight, predominantly inhabiting wetlands. Horsetail can adapt to drier environments, including woodlands, fields, meadows, disturbed areas, roadsides, and railway embankments. This plant reproduces through lightweight spores that can be dispersed over great distances by wind, water, or animals, contributing to its widespread distribution. Its resilience and aggressive growth make Horsetail an invasive species in certain regions. Despite its potential toxicity to livestock, especially horses, humans have utilized Horsetail for various purposes throughout history. Although mainly found through foraging, Horsetail is cultivated for both its ornamental value in gardens and its medicinal properties, which have prompted commercial cultivation. You're most likely to find Horsetail at nurseries or health food stores.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Horsetail. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Star Chefs |
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Kakure Ume (Red Sea Bream Milt, Ume, and Horsetail Shoots) |
| Squamish Valley Farm |
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Hi Fidelity Fiddle Heads and Horse Tail |
| Venusian Glow |
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Horsetail Skin & Nails Cocktail |
