Spice bush

[spunk]

Has anyone used the twigs from this bush. It has a citrus taste. Back in the colonial days they were used for tea and the berries were used for allspice. I was thinking of using them but cannot find anyone that has done it.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Why not leave the twigs and leaves for the butterflies and just use the berries? Seems like a lot of work as there is not a lot of flesh on those berries. Have you tried an elderberry yet? WVMJ

 

[Turock]

I have alot of spice bush on the edge of the woods, but I've never used them for anything. You could harvest the berries and make an extract out of them by putting them into some vodka after crushing them a little. Another way the berries are used is to dry and crush them and use them as spice.

 

[spunk]

I have the bulk lace elderberry I planted many years ago, I wasn't interested in wine brewing then. Last year I bought the wild elderberries to polinate with the black lace. So I can the wine sounds good. I read through black lace doesn't taste good. I do get plenty of berries it is well established.

 

[spunk]

I would like to try the vodka idea. I was thinking add a few sprigs from pruning to add a extra citrus taste to maybe a mead or ginger wine or maybe rhubarb. Or to a beer brew.

 

[Turock]

It would probably be a good idea to split the twigs lengthwise into 4 pieces so that it's really exposed to the vodka. It will probably take quite a bit of fruit.leaves, and twigs---pack the bottle full, even if you have to remove a small amount of vodka to do it. You might have to let it sit a long time--possibly refrigerating it for a month often helps extract the oils. Then leave it alone for a long time, shaking it up once in a while. Fracture the berries--tear the leaves.

I hope you report back on how this worked out--I might have to try it as I have alot of this bush around here.

 

[spunk]

I will and report back I did that last summer with some of my sour cherries in vodka was nice. I had soo many cherries last year. This year none.

 

[Turock]

None of us have cherries--or peaches--this year in NE Ohio. The cold was too intense and long-lasting.

 

[spunk]

Yup know that one I'm from Ohio too.bad winter

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

So have you actually tried chewing on them to see if it has a citrus taste? I am going to have to go out and chew on a leaf now to find out! You would have to have an extreme amount of patience to pick enough of those berries to make more than a gallon of anything, please make sure to take pics, including the tree. WVMJ

 

[Turock]

Oh, my bushes are always loaded with the berries so if his bushes are like mine, it wouldn't take long to get quite a few of them.

 

[WVMountaineerJack]

Interesting, we only get a very few on ours, maybe them being on top of a dry hill make it tough for them. Gotta love those spicebush swallowtail cats. WVMJ

 

[spunk]

I only have two bushes I bought at a native garden sale there are male and female plants you need both for berries only the females produces berries. I know one is a female other I hope is a male. I'm going to try a tea today read it gets bitter if it hot make good sun tea I'll try both.if bitter probably be good for beer brewer.

 

[spunk]

The swallowtail is the main reason I bought the bush. haven't seen one yet.lol caterpie.

 

[Turock]

All my spice bush is growing, natively, at the edge of the woods which spends half the day in shade. I have a section of woods that is total shade all day and noticed, while mowing lawn the other day, that a whole bunch of them have started coming up there too. I'll bet I have, at least, 25 or 30 of them and some are very large. They aren't as tall as in your picture--maybe 6 feet tall or so but very wide.

 

[spunk]

Mine is about 6 ft tall to so they must sucker or reseed. I tryed a few leaves as a hot tea was interesting not bad kinda citrus but not too much.

 

[Turock]

Yes, they do get alot of suckers on them and I'm sure they reseed themselves.

 

[spunk]

Have you ever tried the berries? Or used them for anything. Do they taste like allspice?

 

[Turock]

I've never actually tasted one, but when you crush them the aroma is delightful--maybe similar to allspice. I've never done anything with them, but maybe I should try it. Not sure if they are going to bear fruit this year--many flowering trees and shrubs did not even bloom this year because of the harsh winter.

 

[spunk]

If you do keep me posted. I would and will if I ever get any. Something neat about using what you have growing.