Many poisonous animal and plant species have a striking color to warn predators. This is how the intensively orange fruits of the mountain ash appear through their colouring. It is considered highly toxic by many people. But is that really true? You'll be amazed, but you might discover jelly made from the fruit on the supermarket shelf. Here you will learn everything about the ingredients, the toxicity and the culinary use of the whitebeam.
Birds love the red berries of the whitebeam
appearance of the whitebeam
- Shrub or tree up to 15 meters high
- Bears white, panicle-shaped flowers in spring
- Fruit ripening in late summer or early autumn
- Forms small apple fruits with an intense red-orange colour
Is the whitebeam poisonous?
Although the consumption of the whitebeam is strongly discouraged, the whitebeam is not as poisonous as its reputation suggests. Consuming the raw fruit causes severe intestinal irritation, stomach pain and vomiting. However, the poisoning is not fatal.
ingredients
In addition to numerous tannins, vitamins, pectins and sorbitol, the whitebeam also contains the harmful parasorbic acid. The latter is the disreputable toxin that triggers the stomach upset. However, the effect disappears when heated strongly.
Planting whitebeams in your own garden?
Although consuming the raw fruits does not lead to death, you should think twice about cultivating a mountain ash in the garden if you have children or a pet. Due to the striking color, the temptation to try the fruit is great.
On the other hand, if you like bird watching, the shrub will attract many animals to your garden.
Culinary Use
Since you render the parasorbic acid harmless by boiling it, the whitebeam is still suitable for consumption when heated. Although the fruit of the tree is not used in medicine, it is used in culinary terms for the production of
- booze
- cider
- jelly
- juice