As you stroll or drive alongside the nation lanes, you’ll discover the Rowan Tree (aka Mountain Ash) with its shiny orange/pink clusters of berries. This can be a venerable tree, often known as the Wizard Tree. Not way back, twigs had been tied into the manes of your horses to guard in opposition to witches who would possibly steal into your barns at evening and hag-ride them to a fearful froth.
For generations, the berry has been cooked right into a syrup and used to appease the throat, for constipation, diarrhoea, rheumatism and gout.
Immediately, scientists recognize its wealthy polyphenol content material. Phenols are rising as one of many predominant plant vitamins to guard in opposition to trendy degenerative ailments like cardio-vascular, diabetes, most cancers, rheumatism, gout, Alzheimer’s, and hypertension.
Nation people used to make use of this berry as a vitamin wealthy winter tonic, and I want to share the recipe which I’ve made tonight, which can go into the formulation of my sufferers this winter.
Rowan Berry and Ginger Syrup
Acquire the plump orange berries within the early autumn. Strip them from the twigs and rinse the berries in chilly water. Discard any brown or black berries.
Place your berries (say 3 cups) in a saucepan and add sufficient water to cowl generously.
Acquire 2 apples (these borrowed out of your neighbour’s backyard are at all times probably the most satisfying), roughly chop pips, pores and skin and all. Add to the pot.
Roughly chop about 4 inches of ginger, and toss in.
You would possibly like so as to add a number of cloves, and even cinnamon in case you are feeling festive.
Convey to a simmer.
Place the lid on and proceed simmering till the berries flip comfortable. By now, your own home can be smelling richly of juicy berry autumnal perfume.
As soon as comfortable, you may both squidge them with a potato crusher or use a hand-held blender. Guarantee that the berries are fully cooked by way of – you will note little brown seeds floating about at this stage.
Examine that there’s sufficient liquid to pressure the pulp by way of a advantageous sieve, guaranteeing that every one the seeds have been collected. Discard the seeds, return the pulpy fluid to the pan, and maybe add just a little extra water.
Now preserve including brown sugar to the liquid till it’ll now not dissolve. Pour into glass bottles and seal.
This can be a great tonic to take particularly when you will have a sore throat, and the primary indicators of a chilly. Sip gently and luxuriate in your house treatment.