The berries of the honeysuckle family are largely inedible. This is particularly true for the red honeysuckle, which is particularly popular because of its colorful berries. The blue honeysuckle, on the other hand, is not poisonous but edible.
Are honeysuckles edible?
Answer: While the red honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum) is poisonous and should not be consumed, blue honeysuckles (Lonicera caerulea) are edible. The tastiest varieties are called mayberries and can be made into jam, compote, juice, puree or liqueur.
Many poisonous honeysuckle species
Caution is advised with red honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum). The berries contain the bitter substance xylosteine, which is particularly dangerous for children.
You should never collect these berries, which look a bit like small cherries, and use them in the kitchen.
Find Edible Hedge Churches
Blue honeysuckles (Lonicera caerulea) are not poisonous, unlike the red varieties. However, most of them are not worth collecting.
They have little or no flavor and leave an unpleasant slimy feeling in the mouth.
Some of the blue varieties are sweet with a very bitter aftertaste. These honeysuckles are only suitable for making fruit brandies.
May berries, fresh or cooked, edible
There are now several blue honeysuckle varieties that are quite tasty. They are also called mayberries and are sold in garden shops under the botanical name Lonicera kamtschatica.
Blue honeysuckles ripen from June and are recognizable by their unusual shape and slightly velvety surface. These are double berries that can grow up to two centimeters large.
The berries taste aromatically sweet and are delicious when eaten fresh from the bush. They can also be used to prepare delicacies in the kitchen:
- Jam
- Compote
- Juice
- Mus
- Liqueur
Collect only known berries from wild hedge bushes
If you are looking for honeysuckles to eat, you should find out beforehand whether the particular species is poisonous or not.
If you have even the slightest doubt, it is better to avoid collecting the fruits.
If in doubt, local nature conservation organizations will help identify the berries found.
Tip
The red honeysuckle is poisonous to humans, but birds tolerate the berries well. The branches also provide good shelter for the feathered garden inhabitants. If there are no children or pets in the garden, it makes ecological sense to also plant red honeysuckles.
