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FOLet’s talk about catkins shall we?! They’re a funny little wild food that I avoided harvesting properly for quite some time, because I didn’t really see the point 😅
They taste really bitter and fibrous off the tree (if you’re going to try them raw - I recommend the small, unopened ones, they will still be bitter BUT at least they’re crunchy and not so fibrous!). I also tried them pickled once and really didn’t enjoy them at all. And finally the nutrition information we had about them seemed super vague. 🤷♀️
HOWEVER, last year I was researching the benefits and effects of various pollens; and it turns out, pollen is amazing! ✨💛 It’s generally high in protein and mineral content and some pollens have specific medicinal properties (pine pollen for example contains phytoandrogens — a plant compounds structurally similar to testosterone that can support male vitality, energy, and hormonal balance 💪)
So, while they’re aren’t really any specific studies on hazel catkins, I figured, they’re covered in wonderful pollen and they deserve a spot in my wild food larder, especially because they grow in the thousands! 🌱🌳
I think they’re best when they’re roasted (I put my trays into a preheated oven at 150C for 15 minutes) and then dehydrated (turn the oven all the way down and leave the door slightly ajar for a few hours or until the male flowers can easily be rubbed off the stems). They taste a little nutty and make a wonder sprinkle for granola or these sticky date bars! 😍
The tea has traditionally been made to fight off flus and colds (although other herbs are probably better suited for that purpose) and to support kidney function! It tastes nice! Sweet and again, a bit nutty! 🫖
When foraging hazel catkins, make sure you know your tree well: catkins appear before the leaves and in clusters, and you should only take a small proportion of a tree’s catkins so you don’t impact pollination or the following nut crop. Remember to pick on a sunny day and sprinkle as you go! 🥰 ☀️
#hazel #hazelcatkin #foraging
@foraged.by.fern
