Discussion
We have an abundance of elderberries in the back garden this year. Mrs colonel c got it into her head that she would use them to make cakes and things with.
I warned that no good would come of it but.. well you know what women are like.
So last night she made some elderberry cakes and also some sort of elderberry juice drink. While the cakes were cooling off she decided to have a taste of the juice. She thought it was very nice indeed. However less than a half an hour later she was on the loo with sever diarrhea and feeling decidedly unwell.
She is feeling much better now. I have suggested leaving that sort of thing to ex-hippie types but she believed she was just unlucky to have a bad reaction.
However the cakes are likely to end up as bird food.
I warned that no good would come of it but.. well you know what women are like.
So last night she made some elderberry cakes and also some sort of elderberry juice drink. While the cakes were cooling off she decided to have a taste of the juice. She thought it was very nice indeed. However less than a half an hour later she was on the loo with sever diarrhea and feeling decidedly unwell.
She is feeling much better now. I have suggested leaving that sort of thing to ex-hippie types but she believed she was just unlucky to have a bad reaction.
However the cakes are likely to end up as bird food.
According to Wikipedia:
The leaves, twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain a cyanide producing glycoside. Ingesting any of these parts in sufficient quantity can cause a toxic build up of cyanide in the body. In addition, the unripened berry, flowers and "umbels" contain a toxic alkaloid.
Due to the possibility of cyanide poisoning, children should be discouraged from making whistles, slingshots or other toys from elderberry wood. In addition, "herbal teas" made with elderberry leaves (which contain cyanide inducing glycosides) should be treated with high caution. However, ripe berries (pulp and skin) are safe to eat.
The leaves, twigs, branches, seeds and roots contain a cyanide producing glycoside. Ingesting any of these parts in sufficient quantity can cause a toxic build up of cyanide in the body. In addition, the unripened berry, flowers and "umbels" contain a toxic alkaloid.
Due to the possibility of cyanide poisoning, children should be discouraged from making whistles, slingshots or other toys from elderberry wood. In addition, "herbal teas" made with elderberry leaves (which contain cyanide inducing glycosides) should be treated with high caution. However, ripe berries (pulp and skin) are safe to eat.
Simpo Two said:
The Black Flash said:
Wine is made from both the flowers, and the berries.
Yep, elderberry is red, elderflower is white.Remember that many if not all noxious alkaloids etc are broken down by cooking or during fermentation - it's only the raw stuff you have to be careful about.
and raw elderberries are pretty awful tasting anyway, so don't worry.
Simpo Two said:
stackmonkey said:
and raw elderberries are pretty awful tasting anyway, so don't worry.
Try a raw sloe!I had a friend (note past tense) who liked sloe gin, so I gave him a sloe to eat
tonyvid said:
I regularly see a Chinese woman out walking when I am out with the dogs - she had a bagful of sloes and I mentioned sloe gin(yummy) but she was off to make blueberry muffins....I thought it best to warn her!
My MIL was telling us the other day about all the blueberries they had seen the other day. I wouldn't recommend eating the pie but the gin's OK!MKnight702 said:
tonyvid said:
I regularly see a Chinese woman out walking when I am out with the dogs - she had a bagful of sloes and I mentioned sloe gin(yummy) but she was off to make blueberry muffins....I thought it best to warn her!
My MIL was telling us the other day about all the blueberries they had seen the other day. I wouldn't recommend eating the pie but the gin's OK!It is a fantastic year for sloes, get out and get picking for those winter warmers.
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