What Is Burdock Root and What Does It Taste Like?
According to Catherine Ko, RDN, a Los Angeles–based dietitian; burdock root is used in East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) cuisines as an appetizer, and in soup and tea. Now grown in the U.S., but native to Europe and northern Asia, its long, deep roots are beige or brown in color, sometimes almost black.
Burdock Root Benefits
The root also contains an important chemical found in some plants, tannin, which is under study for its cancer preventive properties (like stimulating white blood cells that fight infection and limiting cancer propagation). In addition, burdock seeds contain an active ingredient, arctigenin, which can remove tumor cells with low nutrients. “In order to harvest its full benefit (and flavor), it is recommended to cook burdock roots without peeling,” she says. “Pickled burdock root alone can be served as an appetizer, or it’s commonly used in sushi. It can also be sauteed with other vegetables or meat.” Similar to ginger and galangal root, burdock root tends to be very hard in its raw form. When cooked properly, it contributes wonderful flavors, according to Gabrielle Tafur, RD, a dietitian based in Orlando, Florida. It’s also used as a detoxifying agent, so it’s key to start with a little bit and work up your tolerance to prevent dehydration and malabsorption. You can also pickle and ferment burdock root, similar to kimchi, to gain the benefits that fermented foods offer. “Burdock root can also be dried in the oven at a low temperature for a long time, and then boiled and consumed in the form of tea,” Tafur says. “It can be delicious when combined with fresh lemon and local honey to really boost energy and immune levels.” She adds that you can also find it in liquid form as a tincture, “in which case you can add it to your tea, latte, smoothie, or oatmeal.” Zeitlin warns that wild burdock root is unsafe to ingest, as it may be contaminated. She suggests the safest form for consumption is as a tea or supplement. When used safely, burdock root can provide unique flavors to certain foods.
Talk to Your Doctor First
Despite burdock root’s medicinal use for centuries, clinical research is still limited, and more is needed to confirm some of its purported properties. Zeitlin recommends checking with your physician before adding it to your routine. “Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use it, and if you are currently on any medications, [you] should check with [your] doctor first as well, as it can lower the effectiveness of certain medications,” she cautions.
