Food & Drink
FinanceWild Mulberries
More: Antioxidants, berry picking, edible, Food & Drink, medicinal, mulberries, mulberry, reserveratrol, tree, wild
Last year, I discovered a huge tree, covered with black berries growing by the creek. I looked it up in my field guide and found out that it was a wild Mulberry tree and that the berries are edible and full of vitamin c, iron, calcium and protein. Later that day, I returned to the tree and filled several containers with ripe mulberries. My hands and fingernails were stained dark purple from all of the berry picking, but I didn’t care because I was on a wild mulberry high, from eating several straight off the tree.
When I arrived back home with my berry bounty, I looked up online what I could make with mulberries and was happy to find out that they are very versatile and can be used in a wide variety of recipes. They can be made into mulberry syrup, pancakes, muffins, pie, salsa, ice cream, smoothies, wine etc…They can also just be enjoyed raw, sprinkled on top of yogurt or morning cereal. Mulberries don’t last very long once they’re picked, so if you’re not going to eat them up a few days after harvesting, they can be frozen for future use. I’ve seen health food stores selling sun dried mulberries, so they could probably be sun dried at home to preserve them too.
Mulberry trees grow wild all over the world and are fairly easy to identify. The leaves form into 3 different shapes, all on the same tree- oval, mitten-shaped and three-lobed with a toothed edge and soft hairs on the underside. Mulberry trees are most often found growing close to water or in shady moist spots. They start producing berries in late spring and you can start picking them once they become ripe, usually around late May. Most mulberries turn a deep purple-black color when ripe, however, there are also mulberry trees that produce white colored ripe berries.
The berries are easy to harvest- just pick the plump, dark ripe ones by hand or spread a large tarp beneath a mulberry tree and shake the branches and the ripe ones will fall to the ground. If you want to harvest berries from the higher branches, use a sturdy ladder instead of climbing the tree, for your own safety and to avoid damaging the tree’s branches.
Mulberries have been highly valued throughout history, for both their sweet berry flavor and medicinal value. Mulberries contain high levels of reserveratrol, which is the same powerful antioxidant that is found in the skin of red grapes and red wine. Reserveratrol helps to prevent cellular damage by free radicals, reduces the growth of cancer cells, is good for maintaining a healthy heart and promotes longevity. Mulberries have been used medicinally by many cultures, especially the Chinese, to strengthen the kidneys, help with weakness and fatigue, reverse premature gray hairs, balance out blood sugar levels, promote restful sleep and to calm the mind.
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July 11th, 2008 at 6:57 am
I was hope to learn how to handle them, they seem so fragile. Will washing hurt them? Should I not worry about the stems? How do I identify a bad one, or need I be concerned with checking every berry?
What are the chances of getting a mulberry tree if I dump a couple handfulls of berries in a hole?
Thank you, in advance for your reply.
Shelley
July 11th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Shelley,
Yes, mulberries are fairly fragile, so handle with care. It’s okay to rinse them… probably even preferable, to get rid of dirt and bugs. I put them in my pasta strainer, rinse them with some water and let them drain on a paper towel. I just pick the stems off the berries when I pop them in my mouth. They come off easily without damaging the berry. You could also cut them off with a knife, if you’re preparing a large batch for freezing or a syrup recipe.
The “bad mulberries” are the ones that aren’t ripe yet (they’re very hard to the touch and are also difficult to pull off the branch). A fully ripe mulberry is dark in color (usually a deep pupleish black) and will come away from the branch without too much effort.
I’m not sure what the chances are of getting a Mulberry Tree if you plant a few berries in a hole. You would most likely increase your odds if that hole was surrounded by fertile soil and filled with compost.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:01 am
we have a mulberry tree in school. I would like to harvest it back at home, what method can i use to grow it? i dont really see seeds in the fruits, or meby im wrong. thanx
October 31st, 2008 at 11:20 am
There are two types of Mulberry trees common in the US. The Red Mulberry which is native, and the White Mulberry which is native to Asia but is a invasive tree in the US. The native Red Mulberry will have a rough texture to the leaves, but the White Mulberry will have a smoother shinier surface to the leaves. If you want a mulberry tree you should really seek out the red mulberry and avoid the white mulberry. Mulberry seeds are tiny, about the size if a pinhead. The best way to collect seeds is to mash the fruit and pick them out. The seeds should be planted in moist soil in the fall, they will come up in spring.
May 4th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I found what I think is a red mulberry tree. I am exited
May 18th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
on the berries on my tree there are a lot of tiny insects on them. can they still be eaten?
May 31st, 2010 at 9:36 am
I was wondering if you knew the best way to harvest white mulberry leaves for making tea. I have discovered 2 white mulberry trees in my backyard, along with my red mulberry trees. The fruit is great.. I have made muffins and pancakes, and even juice. My problem has been that the white mulberry leaves (dried, and steeped for 20 min) are not making very good tea. The water just tastes like water. Am I supposed to only pick the young leaves?
July 30th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Question: Are the Mulberry leaves edible from a Red Mulberry Tree?
Wild Trees, Look around the area and you might find a young one growing. They seem to sprout up around our place all over the place. Seem to be pretty hardy when transplanted with enough dirt and keep watered.
Sandy