Wild blueberries??

DonnaP

Hi

I went blackberry picking today down our lane and came across what I thought was a wild blueberry bush.

The fruit was purple and just like blueberries, but they have a stone in the middle like cherries.

What are they, does anyone know?

Donna

isualive

Could be damsons?

DonnaP

Could be damsons?

They are two small for damsons and definately the same shape as bluberries. I never knew you could get blueberries with a stone in though!

jennybb

They could be sloes - similar in size to blueberries, with a stone in them.

DonnaP

Hi jennybb

Stupid question, but are they edible??!!??

frivolous_fay

If they're sloes, they're extremely bitter, but you can make gin out of them

http://www.sloe.biz/

DonnaP

Hi Fay

Can you make anything food wise or are they too bitter?

jennybb

Hi.:D
The only thing I've ever done with them is sloe gin and liquers with the leftover fruit. They are very bitter - I don't think you'd want to eat them as they are. They are the fruit of the blackthorn bush - it has long thorns, as you will find when you pick them. You will probably find a recipe for sloe gin on the OS board indexed collection. But basically you !!!!! them (about 500g) and stick them in a bottle with gin in with half their weight of sugar. Shake every now and then. It'll be good for Christmas - improves with age apparently - but mine never lasts that long. The gin and sugar soaked fruit, I made into liqueurs last year - stone them and pop one each into sections of an ice cube tray then pour over melted chocolate.

HTH

jennybb

Fay's quicker than me!

consumermonkey

Them is called wimberries where my mother comes from.