World Wild Flora - Prunus padus - Bird or Hag, cherry or berry - i'll take that!
Hagberry, also called a bird cherry is actually a tree (or large shrub) of cherry species from Rosaceae family. In local polish language it is called ' czeremcha'. Native to Europe and Northern Asia, it grows up to 16 meters in height.
This species prefers places next to streams, hedgerows and wet woodland and '' to ensure that it receives enough moisture likes to grow by a stream. In the wild and provided the soil is moist enough; the bird cherry will often be found growing in thickets and woodlands. ''
Besides being the food for birds ( as one of its names suggests), Prunus padus species have been used by humans for a long time. In the middle ages its bark was used to ward off plaque. The bark (Cortex padi) taken from young shoots, was and still is used in traditional medicine as astringent, diuretic and anti-rheumatic agent. Young leaves contain glycoside volatile compounds with decontaminating and bactericidal properties. The fruits are edible ( except its stone that is poisonous) and slightly bitter in taste.
As for the fruits, they are used for culinary purposes rather in Eastern and Central Europe than in the West. In Siberia - after drying, they are used as a component of tinctures and seasoning for dumplings. Also fruits are used in the production of preserves, for example juices, tinctures or jams. Couple of years ago i've made a delicious wine out of stoneless hagberry fruits. It's all gone now (damn). Luckily enough, the season for picking the fruits in Europe is right now, so i'll be repeating the pleasant experience of hagberry fruit wine making shortly.
Find out more:
http://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/bird-cherry-tree-prunus-padus/
https://www.stolicazdrowia.pl/2614/czeremcha-zwyczajna-wlasciwosci-lecznicze-zastosowanie-uzycie/ (pl)
World Wild Flora contest link:
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Very cool @artofwisdom! We were on the same timing with our prunus posts :) Nice coincidence :) These sound delicious! I looked it up and am amazed at how cold hardy prunus padus is.
That's really fascinating. Would love to see a post when you make the wine. A little how to post. I have always wanted to try and make wine but never have. Great post!
I've started making wines only few years ago. Doesn't matter how much of wine you will make, it's gone at some point - in my case mostly as treat gifts to friends and family. Once you make wine the first time, it's easy as you get the process. You can then experiment with different fruits and spices. I'll try to make how-to post for hagberry wine and liquor in the next few days or so :)
Awesome! I can't wait to read it! Do you have a favorite one you make? Growing up my mom always made dandelion wine but I was too young to try it. I just know everyone loved it.
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Besides hagberry one, it is brambleberry wine. Those two wins all! Also an elderberry wine is in the making last few weeks and i'm yet to try it. It is best in my opinion to try making wines out of niche fruits like forest fruits or less known or forgotten in time fruits...it's good to check some old recipes, oldies 've known how to make it great :)
Is this yummy?
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fruits can be eaten raw (without a stone) - ripe fruits are tasting sweet and slightly bitter, the more sunny place that tree grows, sweeter the fruits. As for the wine, it is one of the best wine tastes ever!
i've just found an article on similar species, worth checking:
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