Blackthorn.
Prunis Spinosa
Oh Blackthorn, the darkwood of the forest, elusive and quiet, but also generous and protective, we do adore you so!
Identifying the Blackthorn
The Blackthorn is related to the "whitethorn" otherwise known as the Hawthorn, both of which have been planted for centuries as hedges around the UK. Interestingly enough, the Blackthorn is also of the Rose family {Roseaceae} and it is easy to see why, given the beautiful flowers and large thorns!
These shrubs can also be found in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, Eastern Asia, and some places in Eastern North America.
The Hawthorn seems to grow best in moist, well drained soil and loves full sunlight. It naturally grows as a shrub and is commonly used as a hedging in the UK.
Leaves:
The leaves are oval and about 2 centimetres long and 1cm wide broad, with a serrated edge. The flowers are about 1.5 centimetres ( in diameter, with five white petals which bloom in early spring, and are hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated in nature.
Berries:
The berries often referred to as sloes comes form an old Germanic work for Plum, which again it is easy to see why, as the fruit is rather large to be a berry and once opened looks strikingly like a plum! Sadly they do not carry the sweetness of plums, being very bitter and requiring a fair amount of processing to make into something tasty!
These shrubs can also be found in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, Eastern Asia, and some places in Eastern North America.
The Hawthorn seems to grow best in moist, well drained soil and loves full sunlight. It naturally grows as a shrub and is commonly used as a hedging in the UK.
Leaves:
The leaves are oval and about 2 centimetres long and 1cm wide broad, with a serrated edge. The flowers are about 1.5 centimetres ( in diameter, with five white petals which bloom in early spring, and are hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated in nature.
Berries:
The berries often referred to as sloes comes form an old Germanic work for Plum, which again it is easy to see why, as the fruit is rather large to be a berry and once opened looks strikingly like a plum! Sadly they do not carry the sweetness of plums, being very bitter and requiring a fair amount of processing to make into something tasty!
Old Woman of Winter
By Jessica Rose
I come to Cailleach,
The Old Woman of Winter,
With my list of grievances, my catalogue of scars.
And she howls with laughter like a hungry wolf.
I offer myself to her, a sacrifice to the mystery.
She cuts away with bones and thorns and mirror shards,
The saga of sorrows binding me tight, constricting threads of stories.
Who AM I without this pain? Who AM I without these stories?
Who AM I standing bare in Cailleach’s arms?
She enfolds me, unfolds me in her ruthlessly compassionate embrace.
Until I am able to remember What I look like on the inside, the glamour of ego dismantled.
Until I can love the shape of my truth.
Until the hungry wolf inside me is sated,
Until I learn to stop gorging on my own shadows.
Only then, like a new born babe Soft, raw and exposed in my naked light,
She pushes me out into the world, a trembling flower to bloom.
By Jessica Rose
I come to Cailleach,
The Old Woman of Winter,
With my list of grievances, my catalogue of scars.
And she howls with laughter like a hungry wolf.
I offer myself to her, a sacrifice to the mystery.
She cuts away with bones and thorns and mirror shards,
The saga of sorrows binding me tight, constricting threads of stories.
Who AM I without this pain? Who AM I without these stories?
Who AM I standing bare in Cailleach’s arms?
She enfolds me, unfolds me in her ruthlessly compassionate embrace.
Until I am able to remember What I look like on the inside, the glamour of ego dismantled.
Until I can love the shape of my truth.
Until the hungry wolf inside me is sated,
Until I learn to stop gorging on my own shadows.
Only then, like a new born babe Soft, raw and exposed in my naked light,
She pushes me out into the world, a trembling flower to bloom.
A video taken along a hedgerow in the uk:
Folklore and Magic:
The mysterious blackthorn whose name itself offers a tell-tale to it's nature, is associated with the dark and light side of the year, the dark thorns, the dark moon and the dark aspects of the goddess. In the coldest of the wintery days they referred to the old Cailleach the goddess of winter and often called these bitterly cold days, as the “Blackthorn of winter”.
Conversely in the springtime the entire blackthorn shrub is covered with delicate white flowers that turn the tree silvery white like the bright or full moon and the light side of the spring goddess. It was traditionally used in the May day fertility rite at the top of the maypole along with the Hawthorn which is considered the sister tree to the Blackthorn. The Hawthorn being called the mother of the woods and Blackthorn the dark mother.
The blackthorn is a prickly tree, which presents more like a shrub with long black thorns that if you get a scratch from, can cause infections that easily turn septic, and as such it was often referred to as the “Pin of slumber” because it caused so many deaths.
Much like the dark goddesses the black thorn is extremely mis-understood and over the centuries has been extremely demonized, even to the point that it was said that the devil would prick his initiates with a blackthorn and this was what caused the “devils mark” and used to identify evil witches who would eventually be burned at the stake, specifically using Blackthorn wood! In many fairytales, the originals that is, the blackthorn plays a central role. For example in sleeping beauty, and Rumpelstiltskin, both feature maidens who prick their fingers bringing on a curse.
The blackthorn produces bitter sweet berries called “Sloes” that only ripen after the first frost. Sloe berries, when carefully picked have traditionally been used to make sloe gin, which is a mixture of sloe berries, sugar and gin left to mature for three months.{Recipe below}
Many old timer herbalists such as Gerard, and Culpeper sing the praises of Blackthorn in their work ....
"The juice of sloes do stop the belly, the laske and bloodie fluxe, the inordinate course of womens terms, and all other issues of blood in man or woman.’Gerard
Culpeper recommends a decoction of the powdered bark of the roots, or of the fresh or dried berries as a cure for ‘lask of the belly , or stomach, or the bloody flux, and to ease the pains in the sides or bowels.’
Interestingly enough the bark is said give off the most potent red dye, of which I am greatly inspired to try out with my drums one day, Imagine a red drum made of blackthorn berries! Not only was bark used, but the leaves was said to be used for a deep green colour and a dark grey from the sloes.
Conversely in the springtime the entire blackthorn shrub is covered with delicate white flowers that turn the tree silvery white like the bright or full moon and the light side of the spring goddess. It was traditionally used in the May day fertility rite at the top of the maypole along with the Hawthorn which is considered the sister tree to the Blackthorn. The Hawthorn being called the mother of the woods and Blackthorn the dark mother.
The blackthorn is a prickly tree, which presents more like a shrub with long black thorns that if you get a scratch from, can cause infections that easily turn septic, and as such it was often referred to as the “Pin of slumber” because it caused so many deaths.
Much like the dark goddesses the black thorn is extremely mis-understood and over the centuries has been extremely demonized, even to the point that it was said that the devil would prick his initiates with a blackthorn and this was what caused the “devils mark” and used to identify evil witches who would eventually be burned at the stake, specifically using Blackthorn wood! In many fairytales, the originals that is, the blackthorn plays a central role. For example in sleeping beauty, and Rumpelstiltskin, both feature maidens who prick their fingers bringing on a curse.
The blackthorn produces bitter sweet berries called “Sloes” that only ripen after the first frost. Sloe berries, when carefully picked have traditionally been used to make sloe gin, which is a mixture of sloe berries, sugar and gin left to mature for three months.{Recipe below}
Many old timer herbalists such as Gerard, and Culpeper sing the praises of Blackthorn in their work ....
"The juice of sloes do stop the belly, the laske and bloodie fluxe, the inordinate course of womens terms, and all other issues of blood in man or woman.’Gerard
Culpeper recommends a decoction of the powdered bark of the roots, or of the fresh or dried berries as a cure for ‘lask of the belly , or stomach, or the bloody flux, and to ease the pains in the sides or bowels.’
Interestingly enough the bark is said give off the most potent red dye, of which I am greatly inspired to try out with my drums one day, Imagine a red drum made of blackthorn berries! Not only was bark used, but the leaves was said to be used for a deep green colour and a dark grey from the sloes.
Blackthorn/Straif Ogam:
The Blackthorn ogam is one of helping us to overcome adversity and for banishing negativity of all kinds in our lives. The Blackthorn also helps us to raise our awareness of energies around us and in that supports us with fierce protection and purification.
Carry a blackthorn in a small pouch if you are in need of these qualities.
If working with the ogam for divination and you pull the blackthorn it may be suggesting that someone you know is speaking ill of you or that you have just come out of an unavoidable situation of some kind that caused a disturbance in your world and now is the time to focus on protection and healing. if you draw it reversed the warning is that there is something to come, so perhaps settling your house in order is the action called for.
Blackthorn and the Fae:
The Blackthorn is also known for it’s powerful fae magic, so much so, that in Irish folklore it actually has its own faery tribe called Lunantisidhe or Lunantishee to guard it. The Lunantisidhe are small angry spiky creatures who are said to curse you if you are foolish enough to cut wood from a Blackthorn during Samhain.
The Blackthorn ogam is one of helping us to overcome adversity and for banishing negativity of all kinds in our lives. The Blackthorn also helps us to raise our awareness of energies around us and in that supports us with fierce protection and purification.
Carry a blackthorn in a small pouch if you are in need of these qualities.
If working with the ogam for divination and you pull the blackthorn it may be suggesting that someone you know is speaking ill of you or that you have just come out of an unavoidable situation of some kind that caused a disturbance in your world and now is the time to focus on protection and healing. if you draw it reversed the warning is that there is something to come, so perhaps settling your house in order is the action called for.
Blackthorn and the Fae:
The Blackthorn is also known for it’s powerful fae magic, so much so, that in Irish folklore it actually has its own faery tribe called Lunantisidhe or Lunantishee to guard it. The Lunantisidhe are small angry spiky creatures who are said to curse you if you are foolish enough to cut wood from a Blackthorn during Samhain.
The Lunantsdhe by Jessica Harris art
We are the Sacred Three
From the Tribe of Lunantishee
Guardians of the Blackthorn Tree
The Mother of the Wood!
Cross not our spiked hedge, we warn,
We can slay by the prick of thorn
Death comes with the flesh we’ve torn,
The Warden of the Wood!
The tree of Druid, Witch, and Mages
Offers wisdom through the ages
Ancient lore of Faerie Sages
The Crone of the Wood!
~ Susan Morgan Black
From the Tribe of Lunantishee
Guardians of the Blackthorn Tree
The Mother of the Wood!
Cross not our spiked hedge, we warn,
We can slay by the prick of thorn
Death comes with the flesh we’ve torn,
The Warden of the Wood!
The tree of Druid, Witch, and Mages
Offers wisdom through the ages
Ancient lore of Faerie Sages
The Crone of the Wood!
~ Susan Morgan Black
Hedgecrossing with Blackthorn:
Ahhh the Blackthorn, with its spiky thorn, worth a second through for any enemy, but also for us, even if we come in peace.
You want to be super sure that you have the full permission of the blackthorn before taking any of her fruits of thorns and also before asking any questions of her..
If you are fortunate enough to be granted permission, know that the conversation may not be flowing and entirely conversational, you may get a short and to the point answer to your question, which is sometimes exactly what we need.
We have found that the blackthorn likes to be given sweets and also to be given compliments, probably because they are not very often spoken nicely to or thought of kindly, unless folks are picking the sloe's, so make sure to bring some nice offerings.
When working with Blackthorn good questions to ask it are about things in your life that have to do with protection, but also if you are feeling misunderstood and how to navigate that, as blackthorn has a lot of experience within that realm.
Blackthorns are also good secret keepers so if you share with a blackthorn you can be sure that they will guard it forever, but also they might have some wisdom to share with you around why it needs to be kept secret in the first place!
You want to be super sure that you have the full permission of the blackthorn before taking any of her fruits of thorns and also before asking any questions of her..
If you are fortunate enough to be granted permission, know that the conversation may not be flowing and entirely conversational, you may get a short and to the point answer to your question, which is sometimes exactly what we need.
We have found that the blackthorn likes to be given sweets and also to be given compliments, probably because they are not very often spoken nicely to or thought of kindly, unless folks are picking the sloe's, so make sure to bring some nice offerings.
When working with Blackthorn good questions to ask it are about things in your life that have to do with protection, but also if you are feeling misunderstood and how to navigate that, as blackthorn has a lot of experience within that realm.
Blackthorns are also good secret keepers so if you share with a blackthorn you can be sure that they will guard it forever, but also they might have some wisdom to share with you around why it needs to be kept secret in the first place!
Recipes and Magic Making:
Magical ways to use Blackthorn:
There are many magical uses for the blackthorn, many, if not most having to do with protection against evil and mistivious fae. It is said that a staff that has been harvested by the full moon, if hung above the door would provide protection against evil.
In Ireland the Blackthorn is also known as the Fairie tree and there are many superstitions about when it is safe to cut a piece and when it is not.
It is said that the fairies guarded the trees at Samhain and in May, so this was not a good time to take anything from the tree, but if one waited until after these times it was safe.
These same staff's were also used in Ireland, under the name Shillelagh, which means club. Over time these clubs morph from being use to protect against the fae, to actually being used for physical protection and eventually used by the police.
These same walking sticks, brought to a high black polish were used by the Romany men to protect from danger, and in Slavic folklore it is said to be lucky to sew a small piece into clothing.
Now, should you happen to know of a child who has been captured by the fairies, go to the top of a fairy hill nearby and burn several blackthorn thorns (seven would be good as seven is the faery number). and the child will be released.
Pop a thorn or dried berry into your ‘charm bag’ for added protection from negative spirits and to attract positive powers, or use a thorn for divination around lovers...
it is said that if you throw a thorn into a well it will divine the faithfulness of a lover for you.
If the thorn should slip from your hands before you can throw it in however your lover is a great flirt and unreliable in matters of the harts, however if the thorn floats the lover was a faithful one worthy of keeping around. if the thorn sinks though it meant your lover was unfaithful!
If you need to unburden yourself of secrets, you can take three sharp thorns from the tree for each secret you wish to tell. Bind them into bundles of three with a little red thread.
Stick each bundle into a shiny, fresh apple and whisper your secret close as you do it. (As rulers of the 'Dark and Light Side' of the year, Apple is often coupled with Blackthorn in Ogham and in magick). Next hang or stick the apple and its secrets onto the blackthorn tree and leave it there for the nature spirits of the land to transmute it back into pure energy.
Add blackthorn wood to the Yule fire to banish winter and hail the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days.
Burning the dried wood, thorns and berries is said to banish negativity and was once used in ceremonies of purification, if there were malicious influences around that needed to be banished. Because of it’s association with darkness the blackthorn also became known as the keeper of dark secrets. On a spiritual and emotional level we can take deep lessons from the blackthorn tree as the flowers support us to open up to the erotic, sensual aspects of nature, casting off any stigma attached to our sensual freedom. The blackthorn has the ability to banish negative energies in any form, making it a strong protector.
Blackthorn much like the goddess Kali, brings with it a double edged sword, as it is known for being a strong force of protection as well as being able to bring a cursing. Many strong wise woman were not afraid of the blackthorn and used the wood along with the thorns as a wand, or as a ‘blasting rod’ which is said to be used for cursing.
These same women would have grown large shrubs of it around their house for the same reasons—protection.
However on that same double edged sword, the black thorn was said to be a witches tree, and so folklore suggests that often witches were burned using blackthorn for this reason. it is known that blackthorn wood is a slow burning wood, so it worked well. This makes my heart break and my blood boil, and so I find solace in reclaiming this dark wood...
The dark aspects of the blackthorn support us in the need to go inward and to see the darker aspects of ourselves and to learn to embrace them, for we all must learn to embrace the dark as much as the light, because leaning one way or the other sends us toppling over and unbalanced.
There is much folk medicine around the blackthorn, especially when using the sloes for preserves and magic, and one that I love in particular is burying the preserves in the earth until Yule, as I love the idea of the earth grounding the preserves with it's own unique energy and magic.
The old Romanies also would bury the sloes in pits lines with straw to make them sweeter before using, which also makes good sense to me.
There are many magical uses for the blackthorn, many, if not most having to do with protection against evil and mistivious fae. It is said that a staff that has been harvested by the full moon, if hung above the door would provide protection against evil.
In Ireland the Blackthorn is also known as the Fairie tree and there are many superstitions about when it is safe to cut a piece and when it is not.
It is said that the fairies guarded the trees at Samhain and in May, so this was not a good time to take anything from the tree, but if one waited until after these times it was safe.
These same staff's were also used in Ireland, under the name Shillelagh, which means club. Over time these clubs morph from being use to protect against the fae, to actually being used for physical protection and eventually used by the police.
These same walking sticks, brought to a high black polish were used by the Romany men to protect from danger, and in Slavic folklore it is said to be lucky to sew a small piece into clothing.
Now, should you happen to know of a child who has been captured by the fairies, go to the top of a fairy hill nearby and burn several blackthorn thorns (seven would be good as seven is the faery number). and the child will be released.
Pop a thorn or dried berry into your ‘charm bag’ for added protection from negative spirits and to attract positive powers, or use a thorn for divination around lovers...
it is said that if you throw a thorn into a well it will divine the faithfulness of a lover for you.
If the thorn should slip from your hands before you can throw it in however your lover is a great flirt and unreliable in matters of the harts, however if the thorn floats the lover was a faithful one worthy of keeping around. if the thorn sinks though it meant your lover was unfaithful!
If you need to unburden yourself of secrets, you can take three sharp thorns from the tree for each secret you wish to tell. Bind them into bundles of three with a little red thread.
Stick each bundle into a shiny, fresh apple and whisper your secret close as you do it. (As rulers of the 'Dark and Light Side' of the year, Apple is often coupled with Blackthorn in Ogham and in magick). Next hang or stick the apple and its secrets onto the blackthorn tree and leave it there for the nature spirits of the land to transmute it back into pure energy.
Add blackthorn wood to the Yule fire to banish winter and hail the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days.
Burning the dried wood, thorns and berries is said to banish negativity and was once used in ceremonies of purification, if there were malicious influences around that needed to be banished. Because of it’s association with darkness the blackthorn also became known as the keeper of dark secrets. On a spiritual and emotional level we can take deep lessons from the blackthorn tree as the flowers support us to open up to the erotic, sensual aspects of nature, casting off any stigma attached to our sensual freedom. The blackthorn has the ability to banish negative energies in any form, making it a strong protector.
Blackthorn much like the goddess Kali, brings with it a double edged sword, as it is known for being a strong force of protection as well as being able to bring a cursing. Many strong wise woman were not afraid of the blackthorn and used the wood along with the thorns as a wand, or as a ‘blasting rod’ which is said to be used for cursing.
These same women would have grown large shrubs of it around their house for the same reasons—protection.
However on that same double edged sword, the black thorn was said to be a witches tree, and so folklore suggests that often witches were burned using blackthorn for this reason. it is known that blackthorn wood is a slow burning wood, so it worked well. This makes my heart break and my blood boil, and so I find solace in reclaiming this dark wood...
The dark aspects of the blackthorn support us in the need to go inward and to see the darker aspects of ourselves and to learn to embrace them, for we all must learn to embrace the dark as much as the light, because leaning one way or the other sends us toppling over and unbalanced.
There is much folk medicine around the blackthorn, especially when using the sloes for preserves and magic, and one that I love in particular is burying the preserves in the earth until Yule, as I love the idea of the earth grounding the preserves with it's own unique energy and magic.
The old Romanies also would bury the sloes in pits lines with straw to make them sweeter before using, which also makes good sense to me.
In her book Under the Witching tree, Corinne Boyer tells of a Black Earth Powder that can be made and used for protective workings for hearth and home.
She speaks about grinding dried Blackthorn leaves and berries, and St Johns wort on Midsummers eve after the sun has gone down.
These are then mixed with equal parts salt and grave earth that are ritually gathered and combined with the earth from the roots of an old oak tree.
While this is all mixed speak this round and round nine times:
The earth, the salt, the leaves, the flowers,
Create a veil of protective powers;
Round the circle, bone and tree,
Keep all evil away from thee!
She speaks about grinding dried Blackthorn leaves and berries, and St Johns wort on Midsummers eve after the sun has gone down.
These are then mixed with equal parts salt and grave earth that are ritually gathered and combined with the earth from the roots of an old oak tree.
While this is all mixed speak this round and round nine times:
The earth, the salt, the leaves, the flowers,
Create a veil of protective powers;
Round the circle, bone and tree,
Keep all evil away from thee!
Hedgegrow Jam
Ingredients
Remove any stalks and dry leaves from the fruits.
Cut the apples into quarters.
Put all the fruit into a stainless steel pan and cover with water. Simmer until soft for about 30 minutes.
Unlike other jams and preserves this needs to be sieved to remove seeds and pips. Force through a sieve and weigh the pulp.
Transfer to a clean saucepan and add an equal weight of sugar.
Bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar and cook over a high heat until jam reaches setting point (105°c).
Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 20 minutes.
Ladle into sterile jars and proceed with canning/finishing with a boil to seal jars.
- 2kg wild fruits (such as sloes, bilberries, blackberries, elderberries, rosehips)
- 2 cooking apples
- Water
- Sugar
Remove any stalks and dry leaves from the fruits.
Cut the apples into quarters.
Put all the fruit into a stainless steel pan and cover with water. Simmer until soft for about 30 minutes.
Unlike other jams and preserves this needs to be sieved to remove seeds and pips. Force through a sieve and weigh the pulp.
Transfer to a clean saucepan and add an equal weight of sugar.
Bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar and cook over a high heat until jam reaches setting point (105°c).
Remove from the heat and leave to cool for 20 minutes.
Ladle into sterile jars and proceed with canning/finishing with a boil to seal jars.
Sloe Gin, Port, and Chocolate!
By Greensideup
Ok so these recipes all require one another to work--as they are three ways to use sloes in cooking!
The first thing you need are sloes and gin--the quality needs not be expensive apparently, unless you want to splurge.
Once you have made your Sloe gin, the other two recipes are made using the leftover gin soaked sloes mmmmmmm....
Making Sloe Gin is easy, all you need are plain gin, sugar and sloes, mix together and leave..well ok here is the proper recipe.
First make sure the sloes are ripe by squeezing them, if they pop easily they are ripe, and ideally have been through at least one front. {If not you can freeze them over night to achieve the same affect}
If you are brave you will also take one of the thorns form the tree, for pricking the skin of each sloe before placing it into the gin--if you did not take one, not to worry anything will do-just dont forget to prick the skin, as this helps to release the flavour!
Mix your gin and berries enough to fill half the jar or bottle you are using and add 1-2 tablespoons of caster sugar.
Leave and shake every week or so until you achieve the desired flavour.
If it is not sweet enough you can also add more sugar by making a simple syrup.
Once done strain off the sloes and save them for making more magic with!
The first thing you need are sloes and gin--the quality needs not be expensive apparently, unless you want to splurge.
Once you have made your Sloe gin, the other two recipes are made using the leftover gin soaked sloes mmmmmmm....
Making Sloe Gin is easy, all you need are plain gin, sugar and sloes, mix together and leave..well ok here is the proper recipe.
First make sure the sloes are ripe by squeezing them, if they pop easily they are ripe, and ideally have been through at least one front. {If not you can freeze them over night to achieve the same affect}
If you are brave you will also take one of the thorns form the tree, for pricking the skin of each sloe before placing it into the gin--if you did not take one, not to worry anything will do-just dont forget to prick the skin, as this helps to release the flavour!
Mix your gin and berries enough to fill half the jar or bottle you are using and add 1-2 tablespoons of caster sugar.
Leave and shake every week or so until you achieve the desired flavour.
If it is not sweet enough you can also add more sugar by making a simple syrup.
Once done strain off the sloes and save them for making more magic with!
Sloe Chocolate Bark:
Once you have some gin soaked sloes, now you can make other yummy things such as chocolate bark or Sloe Port!
Making the bark is also easy, all you need is some good quality chocolate for melting and any other things you might like to add to the bark.
Start by removing the pits form your sloes--this is messy work, but worth it.
pat them dry and lay them in a nice even payer on some parchment paper.
Melt your chocolate and pour it over the sloes.
lastly sprinkle sea salt or chopped nuts or anything else you might like on top of your bark.
let set and enjoy!
Sloe Port:
If you prefer to make this recipe instead of the chocolate here is what you do.
Take a good quality bottle of red wine, some Brandy and more sugar.
Macerate your berries a bit so they are all squished and add them wine over top.
Lastly add about 100g sugar and seal.
Shake daily for 6-8 weeks, keeping it in a cool, dark place.
Taste and adjust sugar if you think necessary.
And at the end of this time, drain the sloes, add your brandy and mix well.
Voila, you have some Sloe Port to enjoy!.
Making the bark is also easy, all you need is some good quality chocolate for melting and any other things you might like to add to the bark.
Start by removing the pits form your sloes--this is messy work, but worth it.
pat them dry and lay them in a nice even payer on some parchment paper.
Melt your chocolate and pour it over the sloes.
lastly sprinkle sea salt or chopped nuts or anything else you might like on top of your bark.
let set and enjoy!
Sloe Port:
If you prefer to make this recipe instead of the chocolate here is what you do.
Take a good quality bottle of red wine, some Brandy and more sugar.
Macerate your berries a bit so they are all squished and add them wine over top.
Lastly add about 100g sugar and seal.
Shake daily for 6-8 weeks, keeping it in a cool, dark place.
Taste and adjust sugar if you think necessary.
And at the end of this time, drain the sloes, add your brandy and mix well.
Voila, you have some Sloe Port to enjoy!.
Resources:
1:Tree Wisdom By Jacquline Paterson
2:Under the Witching tree by Corrine Boyer
3:Hedgerow Jam by Steve Smith, Head Chef of Michelin-starred Bohemia Restaurant, shares his hedgerow jam recipe
1:Tree Wisdom By Jacquline Paterson
2:Under the Witching tree by Corrine Boyer
3:Hedgerow Jam by Steve Smith, Head Chef of Michelin-starred Bohemia Restaurant, shares his hedgerow jam recipe