Hawthorn Berries
Estimated Inventory, lb : 0
Description/Taste
Hawthorn berries are small in size, averaging 1 to 2 centimeters in diameter, and have a round to oval shape with blunt, curved ends. Each berry features a five-pointed, star-like calyx at the base surrounding a dark brown, dried cavity. On the opposite side of the berry is a thin, slender, fibrous stem showcasing red, green, and brown hues. Hawthorn berries grow in clusters and ripen to a dark red coloring. The fruit’s surface is smooth, firm, taut, and faintly glossy, becoming slightly squishy with maturity. The skin is also thin and easily broken with pressure, revealing yellow-orange flesh. The flesh is sticky, dry, dense, and creamy, enveloping one large brown seed that is inedible and should be discarded. Hawthorn berries are edible once ripe and have a subtly sweet, vegetal, tart, and faint, apple-like taste. When cooked with sweeteners, their flavor mellows and becomes reminiscent of a combination of apple, rose hips, and medlar. The deeply lobed and veined green leaves are also edible when young and tender. The leaves range from 3 to 6 centimeters in length and bear a nutty, green taste.
Seasons/Availability
Hawthorn leaves and flowers are typically harvested in the late spring and early summer when they are young and tender. Ripe berries are picked in the fall, between August and September. In some regions of Europe, the berries can remain on the trees through winter.
Current Facts
Common Hawthorn, botanically classified as Crataegus monogyna, is a widespread species belonging to the Rosaceae family. The species is large, fast-growing, and develops tangled, thorny branches extending 6 to 15 meters in height. The trees produce edible, deeply lobed leaves, flowers, and berries, more commonly known as haws. Common Hawthorn is one of the most widely found Hawthorn species worldwide and is an ancient plant revered for its medicinal and culinary properties. Historically, the species has been associated with myths and folklore across Europe, especially in the British Isles, and was later planted as a functional property barrier for its thorny, densely branched nature. Common Hawthorn is also known as English Hawthorn, Oneseed Hawthorn, Thornapples, May Thorn, Whitethorn, and May tree. In the modern day, Common Hawthorn is a specialty foraged species utilized in a wide array of fresh and cooked culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Hawthorn berries, also known as haws, are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive tract, vitamin C to boost the immune system, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and calcium to protect bones and teeth. The berries also provide polyphenols to reduce inflammation and protect the cells against free radical damage, vitamin A to maintain healthy organ functioning, iron to develop the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, and other nutrients, including vitamin D, phosphorus, amino acids, magnesium, B vitamins, zinc, and copper. In natural medicines throughout Europe, Hawthorn berries are nicknamed the “food for the heart” and are incorporated into tinctures for heart health and lowering blood pressure. Young flowers, leaves, and berries are dried in the sun and steeped into tea to calm the nerves and protect the body's overall health.
Applications
Common Hawthorn is known for its edible flowers, leaves, and berries, and all three elements can be consumed raw or cooked. Only ripe red berries are eaten fresh and are savored for their mild flavor and high nutritional value. It is important to note that the seeds are not edible and must be discarded. Leaves and flowers are eaten when young and tender and can be tossed into salads. In England, Common Hawthorn is known as the “bread and cheese tree.” This name was given to the species as the berries, or haws, and leaves were a valued food source during times of famine. The leaves and haws kept many communities alive, becoming as important in diets as bread and cheese. Despite this savory moniker, Common Hawthorn haws and leaves do not taste like bread or cheese and were named for their edible nature, not their flavor. Common Hawthorn haws contain pectin, leading the berries to be used in jams, jellies, syrups, and sauces. They are also popularly made into chutneys, ketchup, and dessert fillings. In Europe, Common Hawthorn is made into a paste, dried, and rolled into fruit leather, or the berries are steeped to make wine and iced tea. The berries can also be dried, ground into a powder, and utilized in baked goods. Common Hawthorn pairs well with spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and star anise, vanilla, apple cider vinegar, honey, blueberries, hibiscus, rose hips, and oranges. Freshly harvested leaves, flowers, and ripe berries should be immediately consumed or processed for the best quality and flavor. They can also be dried for extended use.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In England, Hawthorn trees are intertwined with several tales, superstitions, and lore. The oldest superstition dates back to Celtic mythology and claims that Hawthorn trees are portals or homes for fairies. It is unknown how the first correlation was made between Hawthorn and fairies, but the tree’s five-petaled blossom was said to resemble a pentagram, a five-pointed star used as a symbol of magic. This mythical connection remained throughout history, as cutting down a Hawthorn tree was considered bad luck. Lore warns that cutting down a Hawthorn tree may result in death, and tales of farmers getting injuries, seeing horrific visions, and blood seeping from a sliced Hawthorn tree have contributed to the superstitious reputation of the species. In the 13th century, Scottish poet Thomas the Rhymer allegedly fell asleep beneath a Hawthorn tree and was taken through a portal in the tree with the Fairy Queen, also known as the Queen of Elfhame. He remained in the other realm for over seven years before he returned. Beyond fairies, England's most famous Hawthorn tree is known as the Glastonbury Thorn. This tree is tied to the legend of Joseph of Arimathea, the patron saint of Glastonbury in Somerset, England. It is said that Saint Joseph of Arimathea thrust his staff into the ground on his journey into England, and from his staff grew a flowering seedling. This seedling bloomed each year on Christmas Day, according to the old calendar, which was January 5th, and became a connection between early Christianity in England and Celtic Druid beliefs, as Celtic Druids often worshiped goddesses associated with various tree types. The holy tree was eventually cut down in the 17th century, but cuttings from the tree were saved and planted in Glastonbury to continue the local myths and lore.
Geography/History
Hawthorn, also known as Common Hawthorn, is a species native to regions of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa and has been growing wild since ancient times. The fast-growing, hardy plant thrives in various types of soils and can be found in woodlands, meadows, hedgerows, parks, thickets, and along property lines. It is important to note that several species may share Hawthorn in their names and belong to the same Crataegus genus. Each species has a different history and origins, and this article references Crataegus monogyna. Later in history, Common Hawthorn was introduced to regions of North and South America and Australia, where it has since naturalized and has become an invasive species in some habitats. Today, Common Hawthorn is found in naturalized populations worldwide and is a prevalent species. Edible portions of the plants are mainly gathered sustainably by foragers, and the species is not commercially produced. When in season, fresh Hawthorn haws are sold through local markets in their growing region. The haws are also dried, packaged, and offered through health stores, online retailers, and tea companies worldwide. The Hawthorn berries featured in the photograph above were foraged from a wild plant in Herne Bay, a coastal town in Kent, England.
