Milk Thistle Seed

Milk Thistle Seeds are the small, hard, glossy brown-black seeds of Silybum marianum. They taste slightly bitter with an earthy, nutty finish, nearer to a sunflower seed left a little too long in the pan than to anything sweet.

The plant itself carries distinctive purple flowers and white-marbled leaves, and is grown ornamentally in gardens and decorative arrangements as well as for its seed. The seeds contain silymarin and have a long history in traditional herbal practice.

Sold as whole seeds, they can be ground at home in a spice or coffee grinder just before use, which keeps the nutty, earthy flavour at its best. Ground seed can be stirred into porridge, yogurt or bread dough for a little extra texture, or toasted lightly in a dry pan to bring out the nuttiness.

How to use it

Brew them into a herbal tea for a rich, earthy infusion, infuse them into oils as a flavourful addition to dressings, or grind them into smoothies, baked goods and other dishes. Technique tip: crack or grind the seeds before brewing, since the seed coat is hard enough that a tea made from intact seeds tastes of almost nothing.

Details

Also known as

Milk Thistle, Lady's Thistle, St. Mary's Thistle, Marian Thistle, Mediterranean Milk Thistle, Variegated Thistle, Our Lady's Thistle, Cardus Marianus, Silymarin Seeds