Tags
antioxidants, berries, edible, foraging, fruit, medicinal, sanddorn, sea-buckthorn, superfruit
Most foragers are reluctant to try eating brightly colored berries belonging to plant species unknown to them; this type of skepticism is healthy and reinforced by the multitude of poisonous berries in nature. We had never seen a common sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) bush before and its bright orange clusters of berries appeared uninviting. Little did we know at the time that we were passing up on one of nature’s superfruits!
Sea-buckthorn is a deciduous shrub which is native to a large area of Asia and Northern Europe. In Asia the berries’ nutritional and medical properties have been known for millenia. The small, tart berries are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Sea-buckthorn oil is known to absorb ultraviolet rays, and Russian astronauts used it as a sort of space sunscreen. Furthermore, many victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster were treated with sea-buckthorn against radiation burns and today many high-end cosmetic products contain sea-buckthorn as an anti-aging product.
Given that the berries’ properties verge on the miraculous, why aren’t the markets brimming with sea-buckthorn? To answer this question, we invite the reader to pick a few sea-buckthorn berries. You will immediately find out that the holy bush doesn’t easily give up its fruits. The berries cling tightly to the branches, which also happen to be covered with ferocious but camouflaged thorns. Hand harvesting sea-buckthorn is extremely labor intensive, and the only mechanization methods developed so far involve freezing the berries and shaking the branches (which also damages the plant itself). Still, in Germany the plant has received a lot of attention since the 1940′s and, in particular, was the subject of a lot of scientific research in former East Germany. A liqueur made from sea-buckthorn is considered a North German specialty.
Sea-buckthorn is not widespread in Berlin.* Mundraub.org marks one located near the Mauerpark (close to the outdoor climbing wall north of the park). The shrubs are actually on private property and only a few branches hang over the fence with berries on them. You are better off trying out another nearby location which is a public space (and which we’ve marked on our map)!
*Now that our eyes are more accustomed to recognizing sea-buckthorn shrubs, we’ve discovered that they do, in fact, grow throughout Berlin! However, they tend to be tucked away in less trampled-upon spaces where they can better protect their fruit from foragers. Today we saw several shrubs next to the Bornholmer Strasse S-Bahn station, but unfortunately their branches had been cut and the plants were severely damaged. This was quite sad to see and is a strong reminder that there is a delicate line between respectfully foraging and greedily harming a plant for its fruit!
Fascinating! Actually, I’ve been enjoying all of your Berlin botanical blogging. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Mike! so glad to hear that you’re enjoying our blog
more posts coming soon…!
Funny, we were just talking about Sanddorn yesterday when we passed some on the S5 train, growing right by the tracks. Unfortunately, I’m not sure exactly where this was – somewhere between Lichtenberg and Kaulsdorf. There is one small tree at our community garden, Laskerwiese, in Friedrichshain, but please don’t pluck it as there are gardeners like myself who are looking forward to harvesting it!
An interesting fact is that a few years ago, Brandenburg’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award went to Crhistine Berger, who has built a business on the healing properties of Sanddorn, mostly cosmetics but also edibles (http://www.sandokan.de/). She supplies the Sanddorn puree for the Sanddorn Torte at Ruppiner Feingebäck, a café in Neuruppin run by some of my relatives (www.ruppiner-feingebaeck.de).
Hi Leslie!
Thanks for the tip. We are always on the lookout for more sanddorn spots, but don’t worry – your community garden is safe
I haven’t heard of Christine Berger but I know that sanddorn cosmetics are very popular in Germany… even Weleda has a whole line of sanddorn products.
Sanddorn Torte sounds absolutely delicious!
I think I recognize this tree as one I have eaten from around Portland (an ornamental). Do the berries taste both sweet and tart? If so, I think it’s the same one — and they are delicious.
Hi Rebecca, it’s quite possible that you saw one in Portland… they are popular as ornamental shrubs because they are nitrogen fixers so good for the plants around them and they help prevent soil erosion. They also seem to be pretty well-known in Canada (http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1198782587774&lang=eng).
The berries do taste very tart, though only a little sweet. I’ve heard them described as tasting like sour oranges with a hint of mango!
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