Are these Elderberries ?

fatgit · « **on:** September 27, 2006, 13:03 »

There's a couple of bushes full of these behind the plot next to mine, which I'm taking over as soon as the paperwork is done, I think they're elderberries, but not sure, and don't intend tasting them until I'm sure

daveylamp · « **Reply #1 on:** September 27, 2006, 13:09 »

they look like the ones i am hoping to turn into wine.
dave

Zak the Rabbit · « **Reply #2 on:** September 27, 2006, 13:21 »

Certainly look like elderberries to me.

Make the decision that you are going to pick them and turn them into wine, then have a look at them tomorrow. If the birds have eaten every last one of them before you get your demijohns out, yep there elderberries.

Martin

Heather_S · « **Reply #3 on:** September 27, 2006, 13:48 »

Don't eat them raw, they're poisonious until cooked but yes those look like elderberries to me as well

GrannieAnnie · « **Reply #4 on:** September 27, 2006, 16:37 »

THEY ARE DEFINITELY ELDERBERRIES!!!!!

I used to have a lovely elderberry tree in my last garden. I used to make wine with them, but as I am not keen on red wine, I used to have it mulled in the winter, lovely!!!!!!

fatgit · « **Reply #5 on:** September 27, 2006, 16:48 »

Thanks a lot for the replies, I thought they were elderberries, but I wasn't certain.

Off picking I go, and I'll be trying my hand at wine making - something I have never attempted before

shaun · « **Reply #6 on:** September 27, 2006, 18:04 »

fry them in a tadge of butter and pour over vanilla ice cream

Eristic · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2006, 20:20 »

Yes they are elderberries and to the best of my knowledge they are not poisonous. Anyway, I'm not sick and I frequently eat small quantities. They are not particularly nice to eat though or it is an aquired taste, but they do make superb wine.

Heather_S · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2006, 20:39 »

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Sambucus+nigra

philsmith1967 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 27, 2006, 21:33 »

Yeah-they are elderberries. Wait till may/june and you will see and smell the elder flower which is also a great ingredient in wine making.Not a bad plant eh? Two batches of wine from one bush

silver8 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 27, 2006, 23:29 »

Elderberry jelly is another use if you are not into wine making.

lucywil · « **Reply #11 on:** September 28, 2006, 08:06 »

my nan used to make elderflower cordial and i think i might gice it a go next year. any one have a recipe?

James · « **Reply #12 on:** September 28, 2006, 08:13 »

Quote from: "Heather_S"

Don't eat them raw, they're poisonious until cooked

Oh no they're not. As you kindly proved in your link

Quote from: "Heather_S"

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Sambucus+nigra

which even suggests eating them raw. I have often eaten them raw; quite tart, but delicious.

Heather_S · « **Reply #13 on:** September 28, 2006, 09:01 »

That page has a rather large warning at the top that says that in certain people, elderberries are mildly toxic and that toxicity goes away with cooking.

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/blog/?p=432

"The seeds of all Sambucus species contain a resin which is nauseant and diuretic; this resin is destroyed by cooking.
(That's from Buff + v.d.Dunck: Giftpflanzen in Natur und Garten, 1988.)"

James · « **Reply #14 on:** September 28, 2006, 11:10 »

Quote from: "Heather_S"

That page has a rather large warning at the top that says that in certain people, elderberries are mildly toxic and that toxicity goes away with cooking.

It doesn't, though. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Sambucus+nigra states:

The leaves and stems are poisonous[9, 76]. The fruit of many species (although no records have been seen for this species) has been known to cause stomach upsets to some people.

So yes, if you fancy eating the leaves or stems, then don't. There is no record of the fruit of sambucus nigra causing stomach upsets.

Quote

http://www.henriettesherbal.com/blog/?p=432

"The seeds of all Sambucus species contain a resin which is nauseant and diuretic; this resin is destroyed by cooking.
(That's from Buff + v.d.Dunck: Giftpflanzen in Natur und Garten, 1988.)"

That is completely consistent with the first link, whilst the toxin is present, clearly the concentration is too low to cause a toxic reaction.

You can eat raw elderberries without worry. You can drink elderberry wine - and that certainly hasn't been cooked. (The headache has nothing to do with that specific resin...)