A very close up view shows that the shiny black orbs actually have tiny hairs - and puckered little mouths.
That's sour for you.
Now, the question is to all readers in US (because I understand that is where chokeberries originate), what is the best use I can make of them?
Is it
(a) to flavour alcohol (like making Sloe gin)
(b) jam
(c) do (a) then throw the strained-off alcohol-soaked berries in a pie? or
(d) just make the pie?
Readers in all other parts of the world feel free to pitch in if you have views on the preferential order of jam, pie and alcohol - irrespective of whether you have tried the chokeberry kind of anything. We don't have enough of them to do some Tigger-style science: try them all and compare, but will report on the outcome of whatever we do try. (There is a slight existing bias towards (c) on account of the alcohol .... Tigger would have told you that he suspected as much and F would not have had to admit to it directly.)
Hari Om
ReplyDelete...orrrrrr, boil 'em up with some sugar and make jam... Other than sour is their flavour anything like blueberry, or blackcurrant, or blackberry... YAM xx
Sour, dry, as in dry like green banana or eating sloes - which is why we tend to the soak 'em in alcohol (with lots of sugar) option. Jam is least favoured because we made Oregon Grape jam a few years ago (similar characteristics in thr fruit) and it was unimpressive. Very black, super staining, but nothing to write home about in the flavour department. Xxx F
DeleteI don’t remember The Golfers Canadian cousins actually having any jams/jellies in the cupboard but I do remember them talking about removing the pip/seed because it made everything bitter.
ReplyDeleteIf you can cope with that I’d be making the preserve because you’d be able to enjoy it more than once
That is assuming the preserve is enjoyable. We also have Oregon grapes and tried jam from those. I guess people use what they have available - we have a glut of juicy flavoursome blackberries - i don't need to make unimpressive jam....(see above), but the taste (and colour) of chokeberries suggests they might work like sloes do.
DeleteEither alcohol or compost for me unless the birds will eat them?
ReplyDeleteBirds don't seem fussed - can't blame them. There is a glut of nicer things they can gorge themselves on right now.
DeleteI do know they grow everywhere, but have never eaten them. i just looked it up and says can't be eaten raw, which lets me out. I am surprised mother did not make jam from them, she jammed, jellied everything. I bought frozen blueberries last week and am having the stained hands and counter tops every time I touch them. about the remote. Bob can turn the TV on and off with the cable remote, but cannot use all the remotes to connect with netflix or prime or any of the movies. He has nothing else to do since he can't fly his planes, or spend hours in the workshop. the only thing he has is tv so he gets the remote. when he cuts the grass, or works on pool or goes to the YMCA to swim, i get an hour each time. we don't like the same movies.
ReplyDelete(c) sounds tempting and the best use of them. Did you plant the chokeberries?
ReplyDeleteDid indeed plant them - but had no idea at the time what they were. That was years ago and the bush hasn't really thrived - more love might be needed.
DeleteI have never seen these or tasted them. I agree, with jabblog. C gives a lot of information. You will let us know?
ReplyDeleteThey are in gin as I write this. A post and photos will follow.
DeleteWell you know me. Gin first. Absolutely. Then pie and jam lol
ReplyDeleteI’ve never heard of them I’ll try and see if I can source them here in oz
There are less challenging flavoured thi gs that you could grow. Do you have goji berries?
Delete