Content
- Hawthorn fruits: Tasty with valuable ingredients
- The harvest of fruits
- Small fruits with valuable ingredients
- Hawthorn fruits - delicious in jelly and jam
- Warming in the cold season
- Tips & Tricks
Hawthorn fruits: Tasty with valuable ingredients
From the pretty white umbels of the hawthorn, the somewhat floury fruits ripen in autumn. For a long time the collection and processing of the berries had become out of fashion - we think it's a shame, because the berries can be used to prepare aromatic and healthy specialties.
The harvest of fruits
If between the middle and the end of September the fruits hang bright red on the bush the optimal harvesting time has come. The berries are then somewhat mealy inside and taste slightly sweet.
Since the hawthorn has many spines you should protect your hands with gloves from injuries. Pick the berries only away from busy roads and intensively cultivated areas, so that they are not polluted with exhaust fumes and environmental toxins.
Since the fruits are often sporadically hanging, the harvest is a bit tedious. Carefully strip the small berries off the bush and lay them in a basket until ready to be processed.
Small fruits with valuable ingredients
Despite the fact that the medicinal properties of hawthorn fruits in Germany are not yet recognized, the quality of the berries is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia. They are traditionally used as a blood circulation promoting and heart muscle strengthening natural medicine.
Hawthorn fruits - delicious in jelly and jam
The bitter almond aroma of the berries gives jams and jellies a special touch. As the berries contain pectin, the jelly naturally thickened and you will need slightly less gelatinizing sugar than usual for the preparation. Since the berries contain little juice, the kernels are removed only after cooking.
Cook the fruits in apple, pear, orange or grape juice until soft. That takes about ten to twenty minutes. Then brush the mass through a sieve to remove the cores. Boil the jam again with gelling sugar or a gelling agent of your choice and fill the jelly into clean glasses.
Warming in the cold season
Hawthorn fruit liqueur is a delicious treat during the Advent season due to its pleasant aroma. How to prepare the rich drink:
Tips & Tricks
Hawthorn is one of the most important plants for heart health. All active ingredients of the plant are also preserved in jam and liqueur.