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The best time to harvest sumac in the Midwest is late July through mid-September, August being ideal. The staghorn is fully ripe then and it still fresh before it has seen a lot of rain. Every heavy rain actually washes away a little of the sumac flavor as it is very water soluble.
How do you process sumac berries?
Pour the ground sumac into a a medium sieve and shake over a bowl until you have separated the hairs from the seed. Discard the seeds. Repeat until you have processed all your Sumac! Lay your ground sumac out on a large sheet tray for 24 hours to make sure it drys or if you have a microwave you can give it a quick zap.
Can you eat raw sumac berries?
Food Use. The most commonly eaten parts of sumac plants are the ripe red berries. These acidic and tart berries can be eaten raw or dried, though they’re most popularly used in the form of a berry tea or sumac-ade. Sumac-ade is best when sweetened with maple sugar and can be served hot or cold (Moerman 1998: 471-473).
Which sumac berries are edible?
Species with red berries, including smooth and fragrant sumac, produce edible berries, while species with white berries, including poison ivy, have poisonous berries.
How do you pick and dry sumac?
It’s best to harvest during a dry spell as the rain washes some of the flavor away, but we’ve had a wet summer and I chose a period of a few dry days strung together to harvest my sumac. I walked along my path, selecting the brightest, fullest looking clusters, clipping them just below the drupe clusters.
What part of the sumac tree is poisonous?
Poison sumac is toxic thanks to the compound called urushiol, which is found in all parts of the plant. Urushil irritates the skin and mucous membranes of people.
Can you harvest sumac in winter?
Once the seed pods ripen, staghorn sumac persists all throughout the winter. That means it can be foraged at almost anytime throughout the year assuming you can find seed pods in good condition.
Are sumac trees good for anything?
Also known as Tanner’s sumac or Sicilian sumac, this species has a number of historical practical uses. The dried fruits are used in spices, the leaves and bark have been used in the leather tanning process, and various dyes can be made from different parts of the plant.
How can you tell if sumac is edible?
So, to get that straight: The edible sumacs have red berries in cone-shaped clusters at the end of main branches. They have skinny leaves and like dry ground. The poisonous sumac has roundish leaves, pointy on the end, has white fruit that grows out from where a leaf meets the stem, and grows only in very wet places.
Which is worse poison ivy or sumac?
Poison sumac is considered the “most toxic plant in the country.” However, on a positive note, it’s also much rarer than the others. It only grows in super wet areas, like bogs or swamps. Just like poison ivy, sumac also contains urushiol. That means it causes the same reaction as poison ivy — an itchy rash.
Are all sumac poisonous?
All parts of a poison sumac plant are poisonous and the oils remain active even after the plant dies. Symptoms of a poison sumac rash appear 8–48 hours after exposure and can last for weeks. Some people are more sensitive to the plants and will have harsher symptoms.
How do you make sumac berry tea?
Making sumac tea Pick several clusters of berries for use. Soak the berry clusters in a pitcher of cold water over night or longer to enhance the flavor. Next, strain the tea through a coffee filter or cheese cloth to remove the berries and particles from the fruit so all you are left with is the tea. Enjoy!.
How do you dry sumac berries?
Cones can be dried by placing them in a paper bag and hanging them somewhere dark and dry for 2 – 4 weeks. Or, break apart the cones and dry them at 95F in your dehydrator. Dried sumac should last for a year or two in an airtight jar. If you’ve ever tasted za’atar, you’ve probably tasted sumac.
What is the difference between smooth sumac and staghorn sumac?
Staghorn Sumac has leaves that have a hairy leaf stem and rachis, the stem that the leaflets are attached to. Smooth Sumac has none of the hair on the leaves.
What are sumac berries good for?
People dry and powder these berries for use as an herbal medicine or culinary spice. Sumac is rich in a variety of nutrients and antioxidant compounds. Early research suggests it may be beneficial for blood sugar control and relief of exercise-induced muscle pain.
What does poison sumac look like?
All poison sumac leaflets are oval-shaped with smooth edges and pointed tips. They’re a hairless light to dark green in spring and summer, with a noticeable line down the center and fainter veins extending toward the edges.
