hackberry
hackberry
One of the oldest foraged foods, going back half a million years. Tiny berries 1/4 inch (.63cm) on tree from fall to spring. Orange-red when ripe. Berries are thin skin around large, hard seed. Seed is also edible. Skin can be sucked off, but best way to consume is to crush entire berries in mortar and pestle into a sweet delicious nutritious mush. This paste can be eaten raw or dried into a “food bar”. Seeds can be blended and strained into a milk just like almond milk. Tree bark is lumpy with wart-like growths all over it. Indians used hackberry for sore throats, colds and menstrual regulation.
Edible Plant Guide © 2012 Markus Rothkranz