What is Oat Tops?

Oat Tops, often called Milky Oat Tops, are the seed tops of the common oat plant, Avena sativa, a cereal grass in the family Poaceae. They are harvested at the specific "milky" stage, when a squeezed seed releases a milky white liquid. That window lasts only a few days, which makes milky oats relatively uncommon.

About the plant

Oats are among the most familiar cultivated grasses in the world, grown across temperate climates for grain. The milky-stage tops are distinct from oat straw (the green stems) and from mature oat groats (the grain). Milky oats have a long documented history in Western herbalism. Because oats can be cross-contaminated with gluten grains during handling, check sourcing if certified gluten-free is needed.

Related herbs

• Oatstraw Powder — the ground green stems of the same plant.

Oat Tops: form & sizes

We carry Oat Tops as dried milky oat tops, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Oat Tops in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Oat Tops at a glance

Botanical name

Avena sativa

Family

Poaceae

Native region

temperate Europe and Asia; cultivated worldwide

Plant part

seed (milky stage)

Harvest stage

Milky stage (narrow harvest window)

Form

dried milky oat tops

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb