View Full Version : In trying not to poison myself or anything...
When leaping and dancing through the old English countryside miles from anywhere (oh, alright then, trudging through a muddy wooded area in my dirt covered boots trying to ignore the nearest housing estate) are there any tree leaves that I really shouldn't be eating apart from Yew?
And also, excluding Pine and Lime flowers, can anyone recommend some good 'tea' leaves?
I thank you. :shock:
There aren't many that are poisonous (although there are many that are just plain vile). Elder leaves are both common and poisonous. As you mentioned, yew is one to steer clear of too.
Welcome ot BCUK!
Tantalus
12-09-2004, 14:36
not exactly trees but.......
a couple of teas, cammomile of course, rosehips, i like coltsfoot flowers they are good for coughs (tho some say they are carcinogenic i think ya need several tons for this to be a real possibility)
Try rosepetals or peppermint too
elderflower tea
beech nut or acorn coffee? after roasting and grinding the nuts
happy foraging and welcome :wave:
Tant
Tantalus
12-09-2004, 14:44
hahaha
and who are you trying to poison then?????
:o): Tant
I don't think I can answer that question with getting myself arrested....can I?
Wow, what a welcome from everyone, cheers all, thanks for all the advice.
What a fantastic site, although bang goes my social life. Can you come out tonight Kimberly...'Er, well, no sorry, I'm going on the internet to talk to people about trees and stuff....'
oh deary deary me.
'Ello Kimmy,
How you doing? Was good to meet you at the WG, BTW did you get my email with my address?
Tea and munching leaves eh!
Well personally I'd say try making a tea from dried bramble leaves (the green shoots taste like bacardi) or of course you can make nettle tea.
Munching leaves well in the spring you can't go wrong which beech leaves or Hawthorn leaves and buds - another good one is the elderflower.
But never take anybodies 'word for it,' - always check with a reliable source before trying any new munchy. :biggthump
A good book to carry around with you is the small Collins Gem "Food for Free (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0007151721/buschraftuk0f-21)" by Richard Mabey. Great, compact book!
Food for Free - I agree, its a great little book!
Hey Gary, thanks for your e-mail, got all your info. Bacardi tasting tea, mmm, I'll try anything once.
Once you've dried leaves can you freeze them, and do you have to dry them before you freeze them?
Tantalus
12-09-2004, 16:17
dried leaves and flowers should keep without freezing
i can only see freezing causing you headaches by making everything go soggy as cold stuff attracts moisture as it warms
Tant
As Tant say once dried just keep them away from the damp.
The leaves dont taste like Bacardi Kim thats the fresh young shoot which you can eat raw - the leaves taste ........ well green if that makes sense.
Now find me cherry bakewell tasting leaves and I will be a happy teddy!! :rolmao:
Tantalus
12-09-2004, 16:31
cherry bakewell tasting leaves ????
a mr kipling bush?:?:
Tant
[FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium]I've been trying desperately to think up some reply with the phrase 'exceedingly good' in there somewhere, but I can't - so I've given up...
Yes, cherry bakewell tea, a reference to the wilderness gathering and some slightly inebriated didgeridoo playing gentleman, some of whom had trouble staying upright...
:o): and I'll leave it at that!!
Thanks for so much advice! FONT]
But it was an exceedingly good night! :nana:
Paganwolf
12-09-2004, 18:10
Ill second that :rolmao: best ive had in AGES!!!! :naughty: :You_Rock_
Hi kim good to meet you at WG. Ground ivy tea, made from leaves, is really nice. Someone made it for me once but I dont know if you dry the leaves or use them fresh(best ask an expert). catch you soon
Hi Kim and Hi Ollie
I'm very glad to see you both on here :wave: :super:
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/photopost/data/500/120DSCI0019-med.JPG
Ollie forth from the left, Kim fifth from left :photo: :stooges:
How far from the right Martin!!! :rolmao:
Paganwolf
13-09-2004, 10:26
:rolmao: Martin 5th from right me 5th from left, hansome fella with no shirt on 4th from right my little cub connor :super: :rolmao: :rolmao: :You_Rock_
I know what I meant :nana:
But consider me educated :rolmao: :rolmao:
BIG-TARGET
15-09-2004, 15:25
This gentleman sells an exceptional book on plant foraging, and it works very well in urban/semi-urban enviroments!! :biggthump
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/
Hola ... 'Food For Free' (Mabey) is certainly a winner. I'd also heartily recommend the Colins Gem 'Nature Guide' series - Trees, Mushrooms & Toadstools, Herbs & Healing Plants, etc ... you can pick them up fairly cheap in most bookshops (my local 'The Works' bookshop is selling them off for £3 a pop - bargain!).
And I've also discovered this great company called Tetley, who make these little round bags that work a treat. But keep that one to yourself ...
G :-)
Little Mole
02-10-2004, 02:13
Raspberry leaves are supposed to make good tea, especially if you're pregnant. I was going to mention not eating elder leaves. Neither should you eat laurel. I'm pretty sure almost everything else you find will be ok. I tend to steer clear of anything dark or waxy. As far as I can remember ivy is a bad choice. Whoever mentioned Food for Free was right. It's an excellent book. along with the yew, there are several dangerous plants you should watch out for. Hemlock, deadly nightshade, can't remember any more.
Moonraker
03-10-2004, 17:15
Here is a very good list of trees and shrubs hardy in Britain that are edible including leaves where indicated on the page:
PFAF - Edible Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Britain (http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/tree9.html)
I have mentioned it before but you should get to know the poisonous ones before foraging; one source is this official government book published by The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Foods
Amazon.co.uk - 'Poisonous Plants & Fungi. An Illustrated Guide' (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0117028614/qid=1096819323/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_11_1/202-7877394-0579836)
It has good info, photo guide and anecdotal stories of poisoning cases in both humans and animals for many of the species identified.
Remember to order via bushcraftuk amazon link if you go for it!
Moonraker
03-10-2004, 17:19
. Now find me cherry bakewell tasting leaves and I will be a happy teddy!! :rolmao:
I'm on the case for you Gary, dressed in full disguise :o):
http://www.mrkipling.co.uk/products/images/pr_im_nutritionman.gif