STOP PULLING THIS! Sticky Willy (Cleavers) Makes an Incredible Herbal Tea

Most people pull this plant up and throw it away — but Sticky Willy, also known as cleavers, has been used for generations as a simple wild herbal tea.

In this video, I forage cleavers directly from my own garden and show you exactly how I prepare Sticky Willy tea at home, using a straightforward method anyone can follow. I also explain how to identify the plant, when it grows, where you’ll commonly find it, and why foragers have valued it for centuries.

I will cover:

How to identify Sticky Willy (cleavers) safely
Where it grows and when to harvest it
How to prepare a simple hot infusion tea
Traditional and practical uses of cleavers
Important cautions and responsible use

This is a calm, practical foraging video focused on education, tradition, and everyday use, not hype. If you enjoy learning about wild plants, simple herbal preparations, and making use of what grows around you, this one’s for you.

As always, only forage plants you can identify with certainty, and use wild plants responsibly.

#foraging, #cleavers, #stickywilly, #wildtea, #herbaltea, #ukforaging, #gardenforaging, #wildplants, #plantidentification, #foragewithme, #bushcraft, #edibleplants

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Video is filmed and edited by Paul Betteridge

Chapters:
0:00 – A Sneaky Garden “Weed”
0:25 – Found in the Garden (Sticky Willy)
0:40 – How to Identify Cleavers
1:02 – Bringing It Inside
1:06 – Washing & Preparing the Plant
1:36 – Where Cleavers Grow Best
1:44 – Hot Infusion Method
1:54 – Bruising & Adding to Water
2:18 – Bringing to the Boil
2:35 – Fresh vs Dried Cleavers
2:55 – Simmering the Tea
3:10 – Steeping Time & Variations
3:26 – Important Safety Notes
3:48 – Sticky Willy Tea Recipe (Quick Steps)
4:09 – Traditional Uses of Cleavers
4:43 – Other Uses Beyond Tea
5:02 – Straining the Tea
5:13 – Smell Test
5:19 – Pouring the Tea
5:48 – Final Taste Test
5:59 – Cheers