The American Beauty berry is one of my favorite plants. When I was a child, they grew wild in the woods behind our house and we pick the berries and make all kinds of make believe concoctions with them – nothing that we ever really consumed. Many years later when we lived in Nevada, MO, there were beauty berries growing in the woods next to our house but I never had time to harvest any and make jelly. When we were deciding what to plant here, and we were trying to stick mostly with native plants, I asked Vince to plant beauty berry and he planted three.
I’ve been watching these berries, waiting for them to be completely ripe but I knew deer and other critters were watching them too.
Today I decided the berries were getting ripe enough to harvest so . . I harvested them and made jelly.
I didn’t harvest all the berries and there’s probably enough to make another batch. I left some that weren’t quite as ripe and if I can leave those for a few days and then harvest them and get another batch of jelly, I’ll be very happy! Seven half pints means we have to ration the jelly a bit. If I could get a second batch and get 7 half pints, that would mean one half pint per month, and two half pints to share.
The jelly is such a gorgeous shade of reddish pink. It is so delicious. I am not sure I can describe it but it’s somewhat floral and light and refreshing – not overpowering and not a flavor that’s easily recognized. Vince will say “It reminds me of something!” But he never comes up with what it is. I wouldn’t use it to make peanut butter & jelly but on a slice of toast . . it may be my favorite. This morning we had blueberry jam on biscuits and to me, while I love blueberry jam, it’s a bit overpowering – not what I would call “light” at all. We love it but it’s always nice to have a much lighter, more floral type jelly like the beauty berry jelly.
Claudia says
We have these growing on common ground in my neighborhood. I had no idea you could make jelly with these. I may have to sneak around and harvest some to try it, haha.
tiptopquilts says
I have never seen these! How neat, and a beautiful color!
Sheryl says
..These are everywhere on our back pasture! I always thought they were poisonous but I’ll start harvesting some. I might try some in kombucha.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
What I’ve read is to not consume too many raw. I’m not sure kombucha would fall into the “raw” category. Do you put the actual fruit or juice?
Sheryl says
I would make juice with them. We just took a ride around the back (me and Bugsy in the tractor bucket and Donnie driving) looking for them. Our berries are pretty much gone but our harvest would be earlier than yours. The deer and birds got most of ours so we’ll watch for them earlier next year. We have an excess of I guess male bushes that have no berries at all.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I wondered if yours would still be there. I was afraid the critters would get these. Next year I may try to build a little “cage” around them so I can be sure to get some for us. We have three and they’re all producing berries. Who knows what we will have next year but I’m betting the birds help plant a few more.