Sea Buckthorn Berries

Back in 2014 we had a good crop of sea buckthorn bu last year we hardly had any. This year we have a another good crop. The berries are small. They have a sharp but pleasant citrus flavour. I find them a bit too sharp to eat on their own but like to mash some up and add hot water for a lovely drink.

Sea buckthorn

The plant is a nitrogen fixer and so thrives in poor soil, but it can be invasive, as on North Bull Island near Dublin. Birds like the berries and therefore spread the seeds. So far (at least) the birds, particularly the blackbirds seems to prefer our Chokeberries. These were just getting ripe but the birds have already stripped most of the bushes!

Aronia berries (chokeberry)

The sea buckthorm berries are supposed to get sweeter on freezing (something I will try this year). They can be made into syrups, icecream, added to porridge, and much more. I also like this idea of rosemary and sea buckthorn vinegar.

Sea buckthorn