[sclarke624]

Come across a tree we saw before, decided as we have been told if its sweet its damson if its astringent its sloe, we would try one.
The fruit was grape size, purple with blue bloom or damson colour if you like.  The week before there were some black fruits on the trees.  Some wicked looking thorns but not loads at all.  Small tree, branched low.  Fruit tasted neither sweet or astringent and was not unpleasant.  There was a cherry size stone in the middle, inside was greenish.

Was it a sloe.

Thanks

[scabs]

If there were thorns, it sounds like a sloe. 

[8doubles]

If it didn`t pucker your mouth up it wasn`t a sloe . Could be bullace which are thorny but taste bland.

[scabs]

I stand corrected. 

[Nobbie]

Sounds like a small bullace, I picked a load about a week or two ago when they were still really tart. They had really wicked spikes on the big branches , but mine had a yellow flesh. They made some really lovely jam

I think bullaces mellow as they stay on the tree, as do sloes, but sloes take a lot longer and nevr get sweet.

[sclarke624]

Hmmm! s'ose could describe the flesh as more yellow than green.

[bailey]

you would definately know if it was a sloe by its taste!!!

I took my kids sloe picking last weekend and i tasted one to make sure but my 6 year old lad wanted a taste i told him they were horrible but he had to have a taste!
now i wish i had a pic of his face when he bit into it!! that would be the perfect sloe test

[sclarke624]

Think you are right not sloes.  If I google there is an awful lot of controversy about wether what I describe is a damson or a bullace and are either plums.  On reading as well people also say there is contradictary versions in their books of what is bullace and what is damson.  Most give up and say if tastes ok the don't care LOL.

[8doubles]

you would definately know if it was a sloe by its taste!!!

I took my kids sloe picking last weekend and i tasted one to make sure but my 6 year old lad wanted a taste i told him they were horrible but he had to have a taste!
now i wish i had a pic of his face when he bit into it!! that would be the perfect sloe test

Possibilities for the next photo comp here,

Best or worst sloe tasting face 

[sclarke624]

Yeah that will be a laff.