In order to fully develop their aroma, the sloe fruits need the first night frosts. Only then can delicious jams, jellies or liqueurs be prepared from the dark blue to black fruits. Why is that?

Harvest sloes after the first frost

With its spherical, black-blue color and large stone, the sloe fruit, which is about one centimeter in size, is reminiscent of its closest relative, the plum. As finds on Lake Constance show, the people of the Neolithic Age appreciated the tasty fruit as a source of vitamins in the winter months. Stone Age man Ötzi also carried dried sloes with him when he crossed the Alps.

The greenish pulp of the ripe sloe initially tastes very sour and unpleasantly tart. With the first night frosts, the cell walls of the sloe fruit become more permeable and the starch in the stone fruit is converted into sugar. This softens the hard flesh of the fruit and the sloes taste much milder.

Process sloes properly

After the first frost in late October or early November, you can harvest the sloe fruits. If you want to pick the stone fruit before the first frost, you should freeze the sloes for a few days. However, the taste of the fruit is not quite as intense.

Processing of the sloes:

  • Wash the fruit well and drain
  • cut in half with a sharp knife
  • Remove stone as it contains small amounts of hydrocyanic acid and should not be consumed

Sloe jam and wine

Sloes develop their intensive, tart-spicy aroma when they are cooked. You can combine the tart fruits with mild fruits such as apples or pears and process them into aromatic jams.

From the prepared fruit, you can make a traditional sloe wine, which used to be used to stretch and color low-quality red wines. Prepare the stone fruit with plenty of sugar and grain and let this mixture steep for at least two months. This drink, known as sloe fire, warms you from the inside during the cold season.

The fruits of the sloe - a proven natural medicine

Blackthorn blossoms and fruits are used in naturopathy to alleviate a wide variety of ailments. Sloes contain a lot of tannin, strengthen a weak stomach and relieve gum inflammation. Their high vitamin C content makes them an immune-boosting agent for stubborn colds.

tips and tricks

The fruits of the sloe give off a lot of dye. Due to the tannic acid content, you can dye wool and linen bluish pink with the natural dye without prior staining.

Category:

Vegetable garden