19/02/2013

Hawthorn Berry Liqueur (Crataegus Monogyna)

The snow has vanished, the days are longer and  in the afternoons there are some weak sun-rays. We even managed an aperitivo outside a bar on Sunday.  Later I went for a walk and came upon a splendid hawthorn tree, leafless, but still weighed down with rosy red jewels.


 Usually if there are any haws left at this time of the year,they look like this;


I had a bag in my pocket and picked some. It didn't take long. They came off the branches with the slightest touch. In fact, they showered down on me and even found their way  inside my clothes.


I picked enough to make a recipe; sauce, liqueur, vinegar  or tincture. As I walked home, through a field, I thought about what to make and also about the properties of haws,  renouned as a heart and circulatory tonic. I was wondering if they could  actually lower blood pressure, as mine is a little high.
I looked down to the ground and saw a heart shaped stone poking out from the undergrowth.


  I was quite startled by the coincidence, but my eyes were immedietly drawn to another heart-shape close by.
 
 

On closer inspection I realised that it wasn't a heart, but the footprint of a wild boar. Not my favourite animal. They move around in herds (or is it "droves or sounders"?), eat anything and destroy the countryside. They especially like tubers and bulbs.
Looking along the path I realised there were a great number of footprints.  It looked like I was on one of their regular walk-ways. I continued home,  pretty quickly.



 
 Hawthorn  Berry Liqueur Recipe  
300g  hawthorn berries                                                     
 (washed and dried, in the shade, and gently squashed)
275ml 95° alcohol*
2 blanched almonds
300ml filtered water
200/300g sugar
Place berries, almonds, alcohol in a sealable, sterilised jar.
Leave in a dark place for 15 days
Filter
Add the sugar and  water
Agitate a few times to dissolve the sugar
Leave for 3 more days.
Filter and bottle.
Can be drunk soon after.
Keep in the fridge and drink a tiny thimble glass after meal to aid digestion and as a heart tonic.
* if you haven't got access to 95° alcohol, you could use 575ml vodka/gin and skip the water.

 
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20 comments:

  1. You're so lucky to have Hawthorne growing near you. It doesn't grow near me, although I wish it did. And funny about the wild boars. We have those around here too. Luckily they're pretty shy here and just run away.

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    1. Thanks Amber, I'm sure the boars are shy here aswell, but I have an irrational fear of coming face to face with them! They can be pretty big and have tusks.

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  2. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week; I hope you’ll join us again!


    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino

    The Chicken Chick

    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com



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    1. Thanks for hosting and always finding time to comment Kathy!

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  3. I don't blame you for being leery about the boars...their tusks are razor sharp and their temperment can be grouchy... loved the fact nature was reinforcing your intuition and contemplations about hawthorn, WD! hugs to you! xx

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  4. interesting, never heard of hawthorn (I learned the English and the Turkish word the same day, ha!) :)

    Sorry that I leave this comment here but I translated the swiss chard dolma recipe: http://cerenisselee.blogspot.com/2013/02/swiss-chard-dolma.html

    Have a nice day Sandra

    Ceren

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    1. Ceren, thankyou. I'm off there now XX

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  5. This is so neat! I just made limoncello and orange vodka for the first time, and I think hawthorne would be wonderful! But yeah, watch out for those boars.

    Thanks so much for sharing this on Waste Not Want Not Wednesday :)

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  6. I love it when you share your posts with us on Wildcrafting Wednesday! This one is another winner! Thank you! :)

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    1. OOh, lovely comment. Thanks so much !!

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  7. Hello Diva, I don't speak english well but I find your blog very interesting.
    I love going around in the country and pickling herbs and fruits, and I think there's a lot of useful informations here!
    Thank you :)

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    1. Hi Roberta, Thanks for visiting-love your photos and blog ;)

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  8. What a fun adventure! The berries and the stone you found, so amazing.
    Almonds are a really interesting addition to your recipe, I bet it is tasty.
    Thank you so much for sharing on Natural Living Monday! I always look forward to your posts, they provide so much inspiration!

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    1. Thanks so much Angela :) and for all that you do x

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  9. Sounds great! Thanks for sharing with Simple Meals Friday. We featured you this week! :) http://nourishingsimplicity.org/2013/02/simple-meals-friday-19.html

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  10. Great idea! I love finding food in the wild :) Thanks so much for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop! Hope to see you tomorrow on the next Creative HomeAcre hop!
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop-4.html

    Please stop by on Wednesday for Wildcrafting Wednesday too!

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  11. I love this post! I plan on planting two hawthorn bushes in the yard this year or next as part of our permaculture landscape. We use so much. Thanks for the recipe and sharing on Natural Living Monday! I am excited to see what you have to share this week.

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  12. This is beautiful, and sounds very yummy. thanks again

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